Korner Pumpkin Patch reopening
The Bee Bum Korner Pumpkin Patch, just east of Beatrice on Highway 136, is opening on Friday.
While this is the first year for new owners Kevin and Julie Monfelt, the farm has a long family history.
Don and Melinda Jobman, Julie's parents, operated the Korner Pumpkin patch for about 17 years. The last year it was open was 2021.
"I enjoyed seeing the families," Melinda said. "We saw some people every year and watched their children grow up. It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun."
Julie said they moved with their business, Bee Bum, to the farm about a year ago.
"When we moved, a lot of people asked if we were going to reopen the pumpkin patch. We weren't sure, but thought we would give it a try. The pumpkins are good for the bees, too," Julie said.
In 2014, Kevin said he was looking for a hobby.
"My grandparents always had bees in one of their buildings," he said. "I've just always been fascinated by bees."
Julie noted they were living in Adams at the time when Kevin called and said he had found a hobby.
"Kevin called and said he bought a beehive," Julie said. "My first question was, 'Can we do that in town?' 'Well, I guess we're about to find out,' and it just escalated from there."
Julie said people would call for them to come pick up swarms and their bees continued to multiply. At the end of this season, they have about 300 beehives.
In addition to honey products, they also sell bees in the spring to local beekeepers. Last year, they sold around 335 hives, but next spring plan to scale back to approximately 275.
Honey is usually harvested from the hives in May and August. This year they harvested around 6,650 pounds.
Kevin said right now they are getting ready for winter.
"We need to be sure they are getting enough feed right now. We're treating for mites and requeening. All the honey boxes are sprayed for larva and wrapped for the barn," he said.
Julie said she just bought 1,000 pounds of sugar as the bees are fed four to five rounds of sugar water during this time of year.
Kevin said he would take about 100 colonies to northern Georgia in December. The change in the weather and the amount of sun helps with the brooding process. The colonies would come back to the farm in late March and be split.
Cole Karlin, a junior at Beatrice High School, helps at the farm. He plans to be a firefighter but hopes to have a few hives someday.
Julie said a few youths in the area and several family members help at the farm.
"We try to get the kids involved. They learn skills like being able to count change and they learn how things are done. It gives them some ownership in the business," she said.
Kevin said adding pumpkins to the business has involved learning new information.
"According to Dad, you plant the pumpkins in June to be ready for now. Mom and Dad have both been helpful. Some of it has been trial and error. Dad is a good teacher. He'll say, 'This is what I know,'" he said.
Kevin said it has been a family business for many years.
"We just feel very honored to be a part of the heritage of the farm. We hope we are making the people who came before us proud," he said.
Kevin and Julie have been making honey products for five to six years. The website offers over 20 flavors of creamed honey, hot and savory honey, lip balm, lotion bars and raw honey. A niece, Bailey Schwab, developed a bug defense bar they also sell. They attend local farmers markets, and craft and vendor shows.
Julie said her favorite flavor of creamed honey is cinnamon, which is also a favorite of a lot of their customers. Kevin said some of the flavors are inspired by his experiences. His favorites are coconut and lime and a key lime flavor.
Kevin noted the business continues to expand.
"We're the Baskin Robbins of honey flavors," he said.
Their end goal in the not-so-distant future is to be a producer-packer of honey.
The honey barn has been renovated several times. It originated as a military barracks and was moved to the farm around 1956. It was a chicken house and a farrowing barn in their hog operation before being converted to a garage and now the store.
The Bee Bum store is open year-round, but the pumpkin patch will be open Tuesday to Friday from noon to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. They plan to be open through the end of October.
Pumpkins in every shape, color and size are scattered around the yard and for sale.
Photo opportunities are also available with backdrops decorated with mums, pumpkins and fall decorations.
In addition to the honey products, the building will have Melinda's famous caramel apples, monster cookies and painted pumpkins. Products of other small businesses will be featured throughout the season in the honey barn, too.
