Compact Tractor Comes in Clutch at Annual Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser

The morning of September 16 was an idyllic fall Friday at the Historic Crab Orchard Museum in Tazewell, Virginia. Four acres of pumpkins sat ready to be picked. Skies were clear. A refreshed corn maze design was newly cleared.   

It was the first day of the organization’s annual Crab Orchard Corn Maze and Pisgah Pumpkin Patch fundraising event, and the staff was prepped and ready for the onslaught of visitors. 

“Our corn maze is easily our biggest event,” said Cynthia Farmer, executive director at Historic Crab Orchard Museum and Pioneer Park. “It’s become a tradition since we started it in 2015, and the revenue is critical to supporting museum operations.”  

The last thing this Instagram-ready scene needed was an eyesore.  

A living time capsule 

The Historic Crab Orchard Museum is an educational institution highlighting the area’s Appalachian cultural heritage. “We take great pride in preserving our history so that we can share the stories of who we are,” Cynthia said. “With the rising popularity of genealogy and ancestry services, people are more interested than ever in learning about their heritage.” 

Learning is at the center of every activity at the Crab Orchard Museum, and local students frequently take fields trips there for an immersive experience. “We have costumed demonstrators throughout our Pioneer Park — it’s like stepping back in time,” Cynthia said. The corn maze is also a teaching opportunity, with a new theme each year geared toward different topics.