Lunceford Family Farms welcomes visitors for annual You Pick Pumpkin Festival

Rob Lunceford smiled when asked what the key to a perfect pumpkin donut was. 

“It’s a secret,” he said. 

Lunceford has made thousands of pumpkin donuts for visitors to the You Pick Pumpkin Festival at Lunceford Family Farms, located at West 3377 Seltice Way in Coeur d’Alene. Alongside the classic pastry, the festival offers a range of activities, including apple cannons, a corn maze, a pumpkin patch and more. 

Rodney and Crystal Cochrane were running errands in Coeur d’Alene when they saw Lunceford’s farm and decided to stop in so their son, Stanley, could pick out a pumpkin to carve.

“Pumpkin picking, something that I feel like everyone around here does,” Rodney said Friday. “They find a spot and they pick their pumpkins.” 

Rodney said one important thing to look for in a pumpkin is enough space to carve the design you want. Stanley, who didn’t know what he wanted to carve just yet, picked a large one that he could barely lift. 

“This is the biggest one he’s ever had,” Rodney said. “It’s got lots of face room on it.” 

Rodney, a North Idaho native from the Silver Valley, remembers the Lunceford farm as a cattle farm and has been glad to watch it transition into an agro-tourism destination. 

“Every industry has to evolve to stay alive,” he said. “They figured out a way to keep it working, that’s invaluable.” 

Lunceford said it was a lot of “fun” and “work” to get the farm ready for visitors. 

“I can’t imagine how they do Disneyland,” he said. 

He said the shift to agro-tourism happened “on a whim,” but “it’s growing.” He said it’s been wonderful to see the community respond to his family’s hard work. 

“People have been so receptive,” he said. 

Kimberly Rodriguez brought her son Xander to Lunceford Farm for a couple of reasons; one was that it’s local. 

“Keep it local,” she said. “It’s a family farm, which is awesome.”

Rodriguez said that her and Xander’s favorite part of the farm is feeding the goats. 

Crayon Box Childcare owner and director, Brittney Masters, organized a field trip to Lunceford Farms. The childcare center is newer to the area, and Masters wants to establish some traditions. The kids picked their own pumpkins to paint later. 

She said it’s important to get children out and about to stimulate learning. 

“These types of things, just getting them exploring and learning about pumpkins,” she said. 

The Lunceford Farm You Pick Pumpkin Festival runs through the end of the month. The farm is open Tuesday through Sunday.    

    Xavier Rodriguez said one of his favorite parts of visiting is the "fun" corn maze.
  

    Rob Lunceford pours pumpkin donut batter into a deep fryer at Lunceford Family Farms on Friday.
  

    Maverick Ruis rides one of the antique tractors on the Lunceford Family Farm grounds.
  

    The Cochranes stopped by the farm on an impromptu trip to find the perfect pumpkin to carve. Pictured from left to right are Rodney, Stanley and Crystal Cochrane.
  

    Sylicia and her son Ridger fire apples through an apple cannon at Lunceford Family Farms on Friday.