Photo by Rebecca Johnson. Click to enlarge photos.

Photo by Rebecca Johnson.

Photo by Rebecca Johnson.

Photo by Rebecca Johnson.

Photo by Rebecca Johnson.

Fall Festivities

Oct 11, 2012

By Rebecca Johnson

The summer's drought has been tough on area farmers. Our orchards weren't immune, but Hebda Family Produce (formerly Garrity's), east of Yankton, is still open for their fall Apple Fest. 

My husband and I stopped out for the festivities last Sunday. They have plenty of apples to buy in their shop, but picking your own is not available due to the dry growing season. The pumpkins are doing fine, though. $8 gets you admission for the hay rack ride out to the pumpkin patch, the bale maze, playground, and a little cup of corn to feed the goats. My previous goat experience is limited, but Hebda's were rather endearing. Some were quite cute and others were the "so ugly they're cute" variety.

If goats aren't your thing, it's still worth the stop for their gift and snack shop. The cozy store was bustling with families sipping hot cider and devouring warm apple pie or caramel apple slices. We picked up a quarter peck of Connell Red apples then made mental note of the jams, jellies, and salsa for the hard to buy people on our Christmas list.

Apple Fest is each weekend in October. Visit Hebda's Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 - 5:30 p.m. Call (605) 665-2806 for more details.