The Pumpkin Has Been Patched (If You Are Over Age 7)

What should you do on a beautiful 60° fine autumn morning? Do not go to a pumpkin patch if you are above the age of seven and do not have a spouse and kids. However, this is how Anton Grib ‘26 and I mistakenly decided to spend our Saturday morning. Now, maybe some pumpkin patches can be exciting for high school students, but not Weber’s Cider Mill Farm. 

Right when you walk in, there is a market to your left, where you can buy apples, apple cider, and most intriguingly, apple cider donuts. The donut was very moist, generously covered with an excellent amount of cinnamon sugar. The apple wasn't evident, but the donut was delicious enough overall to warrant seconds and thirds. Anton and I finished a half-dozen donuts in a matter of minutes, which speaks to the quality of the donuts. However, do not let these donuts draw you in. 

After the donuts, we followed a crowd of people, as the place was surprisingly filled with many families and couples. We arrived at a large, open pasture with various activities taking place. The most popular activities seemed to be the hayride and the “potato sack slide,” with the corn maze and farm animals not far behind. “The hayride was exhilarating!” said no one ever. There was little leg room, and a thirty-minute wait for five minutes on a hay bale is not exactly fun. The best comparison I can give you is waiting to board a plane, sitting down in your economy seat, and then looking out the window as the aircraft proceeds to the runway, only to return due to a lack of fuel. The Potato Sack Slide, according to Anton, was “super fun, but very dangerous because, if you have scoliosis, there are a lot of bumps that can hit your back.” As for the corn maze, Anton and I could both see right over all the corn stalks, but the maze would probably be wildly thrilling for a young kid. Finally, there were ducks, chickens, bunnies, and goats on display. You could not touch or feed any of the animals, and the goats were the only animals that were fully visible to us. By the goats’ stances and movements, I could tell that many of them had forgotten about their ‘day ones’ and just wanted to show off in front of the crowd. 

Anton and I figured the best way to reward our hour of misery was by ordering some barbecue from a nearby food truck. Anton ordered the pit beef, and I the pulled pork. The pit beef had “a nice soft texture without being too chewy. There was a good smoky taste as well.” As for the pulled pork, the sandwich was extremely tender and flavorful; however, the bun was not toasted and was a bit soggy. Each sandwich costs around seventeen dollars, so Anton and I both agreed that you would be better off ordering sixteen apple cider donuts. 

If you take away anything from this review, leave with this: If you want tasty apple cider donuts around 30 minutes from Gilman, Weber’s Cider Mill Farm is worth it. Otherwise, I suggest you use your Saturday morning more wisely.