Ladies Farm Tour on the South Plains

Story provided by Quenna Terry
Informational and photo contributions were made by Yoakum County District Clerk Jackie Pate and NRCS District Conservationist Donald Haley.

It’s harvest time and many of the crops in the fields on the south plains are at their peak for picking in West Texas. In some places, cropland fields are filled with vibrant colors, but it isn’t just the foliage on trees that’s changing; it’s the bright and brilliant colors of pumpkins and gourds!

On Oct. 2, 2006, ladies from the Yoakum County area (Plains/Denver City) participated in the Third Annual “Ladies Farm Tour” to learn about gourds and pumpkins growing on the south plains of Texas near the Texas/New Mexico state line.

Jackie Pate, district clerk for the Yoakum County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and organizer of the event, said, “The Ladies Farm Tour provides an opportunity for ladies of the county to see something different and interesting. Each year we organize and sponsor the Ladies Farm Tour because we want the women in our area to be more involved in soil and water conservation.”

Over 25 women attended the event sponsored by the Yoakum County SWCD. Rhonda Bowlin of J & A Farms welcomed the ladies to the farm and presented a PowerPoint presentation to the group on the many varieties of decorative gourds grown in their operation. There was also a colorful display of decorated gourds for all to see and to admire the work-of-art creations that can be created from these many types of gourds. The ladies toured the production facilities as pumpkins and gourds were being processed for shipping. Then the ladies toured the fields where the different gourd varieties were being picked. A catered lunch was served on site.

The decorative gourd portion of J & A Farms is in its third year of operation. The majority of the main J & A Farms (Jerry and Ann Hartman) farming operation concentrates on watermelons, pumpkins, and peanuts grown in wheat residue. Rhonda and her Mom, Ann Hartman, began planting on 10 acres and have expanded to 65 acres this year, with 100 different varieties. Every year planting begins in May and ‘fruits of their labor’ are revealed during this time of the year, at harvest. Each fall, J & A Farms decorative gourds are found in grocery stores throughout the state.

“We feel like this is a unique experience for Yoakum County ladies. Many women attend the event each year-- from farmers’ wives to ladies who work in town. One thing I know, each and every one of us knows more about agriculture in Yoakum County when we leave that day than when we got there that morning. And we very much appreciate
J & A Farms, Rhonda Bowlin, Jerry and Ann Hartman and their employees for taking the time to show us their operation,” says Jackie Pate, Yoakum SWCD.

According to Plains NRCS District Conservationist Don Haley, the Ladies Farm Tour is a unique experience on the south plains of Texas. “The Ladies Farm Tour is well received and the ladies always see and learn something new. This year was no exception and we feel it was a tremendous success.”

“It’s a great day…a fun day…an educational day,” says Sue Ann Harrison, Ladies Farm Tour participant from Denver City. “I can’t wait to see where we get to go next year!”

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