74-year-old's pumpkin farm brings in $2 million annually-in only 7 weeks

Key Points:

• Kelly Schultz, who started The Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence, New York, in 1993 with no prior farming experience, has turned it into a major seasonal attraction drawing over 100,000 visitors each fall and generating $2 million in annual revenue by 2025.
• The farm operates for seven weeks each fall, offering a $20 weekend admission that includes activities like pumpkin-themed train rides, a giant corn maze, pie-eating contests, and more, attracting repeat visitors who come nearly every weekend.
• Schultz gained national attention in 1996 by hosting the World Pumpkin Weigh-Off, where a record-breaking 1,061-pound pumpkin put the farm "on the map," and the event continues to draw large crowds with pumpkins now weighing nearly 2,000 pounds.
• The Great Pumpkin Farm employs over 100 seasonal workers during its operating season and features numerous attractions including hayrides, pumpkin cannons, and a Halloween store, while weekdays have free admission with limited activities.
• The farm is a family-run business with Schultz’s son and grandchildren involved, and Schultz plans to continue expanding the farm, which closes after Halloween each year for cleanup before returning to antique sales until the next season.