Cox's Pumpkin Patch near Champion, Neb., started in 1985, because of my oldest grandson's (Taylor Cupp) birthday is on Halloween. Taylor and I planted pumpkins, so he would have some to carve and we had too many for just ourselves. We put a small ad in the Imperial Republican and people came out and picked their own out of the field.

Each year the patch has gotten a little bigger. We now grow about an acre and a half of pumpkins and gourds. We care for and harvest them ourselves.

All the pumpkins are moved to Cox's Ponds for our weeklong Pumpkin Patch celebration. School classes, pre-schools and others come during the week for field trips and the public is welcome on the weekend.

The corn maze is all cut by hand and takes about 2 months to complete. This year was a “Haunted Campground” theme and different groups from the community helped decorate it.

Activities at the Pumpkin Patch included: Hay Rack Rides to Corn Maze; Night Corn Maze (21+); Pumpkin Run (Kids run, 5K & 10 mile); Pumpkins for sale by the pound; Cookies (Jeannine Cox, Arlys & Kelsey Cupp, and some 4-H groups made over 150 dozen cookies this year); Pony Rides & Petting Zoo (Provided by Troy & Judy Brandt & daughters of Imperial); Grilled Hot Dogs – compliments of Pinnacle Bank; Cotton Candy – compliments of Adam's Bank & Trust; Crafts; Scarecrow contest (sponsored by local businesses); Professional photographer, Ann Miller; “Guess the weight of the giant pumpkin” contest and Face Painting.