How Prairie Jewel Farms Took Root

“There’s nowhere I would rather raise my family than among my people.” For Tessa Perrin, owner of Prairie Jewel Farm, that spark brought her back to her hometown of Grinnell this summer. From watching her kids embrace the outdoors, to using their imagination to play and enjoying the fall activities that come with it all. “Its the little things they love the most when we’re out here,” she shared.

Perrin couldn’t stop asking herself, “What do people really want to do in the fall?” Her answer seemed simple, “I felt very strongly about creating a pumpkin patch for families in the community. This heartfelt desire to build a space for kids to play, learn about agriculture, and for families to enjoy fall outings together created Prairie Jewel Farm – a name chosen as a local tribute to Grinnell, the “Jewel of the Prairie.”

What began as a vision to offer pumpkins, mums, and a seasonal shop blossomed into something much larger – a welcoming and creative atmosphere for families, college students, and travelers from afar to enjoy fall activities. “We’re glad to be a pumpkin patch in Grinnell, and to support our local community and surrounding towns,” shared Perrin, “People are really enjoying it. I've been collecting great feedback that is helping me think about how we can continue to grow and improve the experience for next year.”

Prairie Jewel Farm came from idea to fruition in just a few short weeks. “If you want to start doing something, you just need to do it,” laughs Perrin. A few weeks ago the space was a wide-open hayfield and now the field has been brought to life, partnering with local businesses to place fun touches on the farm. In just the six days they have been open, they have already seen return visitors. “The support from the community has really been overwhelming for me – to support what we’ve started here and to see what we’ve been able to build in such a short amount of time,” expressed Perrin.

On average, visitors are spending around two hours at the farm, enjoying the cool weather, picking out their perfect pumpkins, and letting the kids play. “This is an agricultural community and we want to help contribute to that, allowing a space for the community to learn more about agriculture and crops,” Perrin explained. From navigating obstacle courses (shoutout to Trent for his willingness to showcase!) and riding the hay rack to painting pumpkins and feeding farm animals, every activity, including face painting and mini golf, sparks imaginative play while building large and fine motor skills. “It’s impressive to see the magic that is created here when kids can play and use their imaginations,” shared Perrin.

Prairie Jewel Farm is located at 598 400th Avenue in Grinnell. They are open on Saturdays and Sundays in the month of October from 10 AM-5 PM; admission is $10/person, 2 and under are free. If you haven’t visited Prairie Jewel Farm yet, this would be a great weekend to go. Whether you are searching for the perfect pumpkin, entering their costume contest, or enjoying the kid-friendly activities, there is truly something for everyone. Follow their Facebook page to stay up-to-date on all the fun things taking place at the farm!

Chamber Ambassadors:

Nikki Armstead – Grinnell Chamber

Jennifer McAlexander – JM Consulting & Hawkeye Lock and Security

Monica St. Angelo – Grinnell Area Arts Council

Evan Petig – The Grinnellian

Monique Shore – PFLAG Grinnell/Poweshiek

Desi Strayer – German Plumbing Heating & Cooling

Natalie Pavey – Cirks Financial Services

Tessa Perrin – Prairie Jewel Farm

Royal Roland – Roland & Roland

Stephanie Lair – UnityPoint Health Grinnell

Haley Breeden – Poweshiek County Extension & Outreach