Visit the 12-Acre U-Pick Sunflower Field At Nelson's Produce In Nebraska
By Delana Lefevers|Published August 16, 2022
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Delana Lefevers
Author
As a lifelong Nebraskan, Delana loves discovering the many hidden treasures of her state. She has worked as a writer and editor since 2007. Delana's work has been featured on more than a dozen websites and in Nebraska Life Magazine.
The end of summer brings a lot of exciting things like cooler temperatures, the start of a new school year, and apple-picking season. And don’t forget about the sunflowers! These big yellow blossoms only last for a week or two, so time is limited if you want to see them at their peak – and maybe even take a few home with you. There’s a little farm in eastern Nebraska that’s the perfect place to celebrate sunflower season.
Pam Nelson Produce is a small produce farm near Valley, Nebraska. It's been in the same family for five generations, but the current Nelsons took a leap in 2019 and opened the farm up to the public.
Now, there's a produce stand, a small cafe, a play area, and much more to entertain guests. Farm-to-Table events and Pizza and Pie nights are two of the farm's biggest draws when it comes to attracting visitors.
But in the late summer, it's all about the sunflowers. They typically bloom at the end of August through early September, but the exact timing is ultimately up to nature.
The bright yellow flowers don't last long, so it's important to get out to the farm when they're in bloom. This is a very popular place for photo shoots - so popular, in fact, that professional photographers need to reserve their time in the field.
Even if you aren't interested in having your portrait taken in front of these cheerful flowers, the field has more to offer. You can pick your own sunflowers for a per-stalk price, then take them home to create a sunny floral arrangement.
During the annual Sunflower Festival, visitors are invited to take a trip through the sunflower field maze or join the educational Sunflower Walk. There are hundreds of thousands of bright blooms on display, which makes for an absolutely beautiful late-summer scene.
Of course, Nelson Produce Farm is open all summer long and offers everything from strawberries to sweetcorn to melons alongside freshly baked goods and ice cream that's churned right there on site. This is a great place to be in pumpkin patch season, too!
The Sunflower Festival takes place in late August-early September; the exact dates are determined by whenever the sunflowers decide to bloom. There are other festivals all throughout the summer celebrating other crops grown on the farm, as well as Farm-to-Table meals and lots of other fun events. Follow Pam Nelson Produce on Facebook to keep up with future events and visit the Nelson Produce Farm website for information on hours, admission costs, and more.
