The Lockwood family farm on the outskirts of Morton looks much the same as it has for decades: rows of orange pumpkins, a weathered red barn, and kids with sticky fingers from fresh cider. But the story behind its new name — Pumpkin.Fun Patch — is anything but ordinary.

This fall marks 21-year-old Ryan Lockwood’s first season running the family pumpkin patch after his father’s sudden passing in March from a heart attack. With his mother, Desiree Lockwood, recovering from knee surgery, Ryan and his younger brother, 17-year-old Braden, have shouldered the heavy responsibility of keeping both the household and the farm running.

Despite the hardship, Ryan has poured his energy into revitalizing the farm — and into a rebrand that has caught plenty of attention.

The Interview

Q: Ryan, first of all, how has this year been for you and your family?

Ryan: “It’s been tough. Losing Dad in March was the hardest thing we’ve ever gone through. He was the heart of this farm, and I think about him every day when I walk the fields. Mom’s been recovering from surgery too, so Braden and I have had to step up in a way we didn’t expect. It’s been long days and late nights, but this farm is who we are. Keeping it going felt like the only option.”

Q: The community knows this place as a traditional family pumpkin patch. Where did the new name ‘Pumpkin.Fun’ come from?

Ryan: “Well, this is where old meets new, I guess. I’ve been trading meme coins on the Solana blockchain for a while, using this platform called Pump.Fun. The logo there is this capsule pill — green on the bottom, white on the top. Funny thing is, this year, some of our pumpkins actually came out green on the bottom and white on the top. Totally natural, but it felt like a sign.

Since I’d made some good money on Pump.Fun — enough to help us get through this tough year — I thought, why not honor both worlds? The tradition of the farm, and for my fellow degens on the blockchain. So Pumpkin.Fun Patch was born.”

Q: That’s not something you hear every day — a pumpkin patch inspired by a crypto platform. How have people reacted?

Ryan: “Honestly, people love it. Some come for the story, some just think the green-and-white pumpkins are cool. I know Dad would’ve laughed at the name — he wasn’t a tech guy at all — but I also think he’d be proud we’re finding ways to keep this farm alive and, more importantly, keep people smiling, especially Mom.”

Q: What’s next for you and the farm?

Ryan: “This year’s about proving we can handle it, that we can keep the patch going even without Dad here to guide us. Next year, I’d love to expand into more attractions — maybe corn mazes, maybe even bring in local bands. But most of all, I just want families to keep making memories here. That’s what this place is about, no matter what it’s called.”

A Legacy Replanted

In Morton — the town known as the Pumpkin Capital of the World — Ryan’s story is one of resilience and reinvention. The Lockwood family’s loss is still fresh, but with each green-and-white pumpkin that ripens in the fields, a new chapter is being written.

And at the heart of it all is a 21-year-old farmer, determined to grow not just crops, but hope.