Our History
October of 1902, the farm was purchased by Tricia (Severt) Crockford’s great great grandparents, Matt and Anna Peterson. August 1946, it was purchased by their daughter, Minnie (Peterson) and her husband Adolf Severt. In March 1963, their son Matt Severt and his wife Virginia (Osness), purchased the farm. And in January 1996, their son, James Severt and his wife Denise (Rogers), purchased the farm who together started “Grampa’s Farm” in 2010. In December 2021, the farm and business were purchased by their daughter Tricia (Severt) and her husband Alex Crockford. This farm historically produced milk, crops, whitetail deer and sheep, in that order. Now we raise hay, beef, strawberries and pumpkins for Grampa’s Farm and rent out the remainder of the cropland.
Our Goal
Our goal is to provide affordable, family entertainment that is also educational. Some of the best memories surround u-pick, the harvest is fun and exciting. We hope that you and yours make many as your “families gather.”
One simple price per person, includes all activities, so there is no additional expense. Once on the grounds, all kids get to do all activities. They don’t have to choose. Grampa said every kid should have a pumpkin. To make sure that happens, a pumpkin has always been included in the entry price. A hayride takes the family to the pumpkin patch to choose their pumpkins.
It was important to Grampa that children shouldn’t just see animals but be able to touch and hold them. We have an array of farm animals including sheep, goats, cow, pigs, baby chicks and chickens as well as bunnies.
We want the children to have a wonderful time at the farm but to learn a little at the same time. That is why we have so many hands on activities. They can cut logs to make their own log stamp, wash clothes on a washboard using a hand crank wringer in a wash tub, and they crank the old corn sheller to make a corn cob doll. They help to make both apple cider and ice cream, as well as taste the finished product. They can milk a cow by hand and perhaps see wool spun into yarn. We hope to make memories and pass on knowledge that will last a lifetime.
Besides the popular haystack for climbing, there is shell corn to play in. We have a tire obstacle course/playground and a bathtub full of soybeans to play in. As you might imagine a family can spend several hours.
Food and beverages are delicious and reasonably priced and available on the grounds with a picnic area. Guests are welcome to bring their own snacks, lunch or drinks if they choose. Please – no alcohol.
“The Red Shed” sells caramel apples, cotton candy, popcorn and pumpkin pie. Red Shed profits go to a charity. Examples of charities include: a Merrill Wrestling Scholarship, homeless shelters, Merrill public school snacks, Merrill Food Pantry, Never Forgotten Honor Flight, Family Life Ministries, and Bible Presbyterian CHAOS Youth Group, and several church missions trips.