What’s The Deal with Benjamin Ranch?
Posted on December 11, 2012
Lately a lot of people have been asking…
What’s the deal with Benjamin Ranch?
We’re not surprised! We get asked questions all the time about this wonderful historic site. So, we thought that we’d put together a little Q&A to tell you just what is going on over at the 87th Street location.
Q: I didn’t even know that Benjamin Ranch was still around! What goes on there now?
A: A whole lot of awesome parties!
At the Benjamin Ranch location, it’s all about the inside! The 100 year old “Party Barn” is heated and air-conditioned. It’s large and can seat 350 on one side and up to 250 on the other and can be opened up to accommodate 500 people indoors.
The Benjamin Ranch is also an ideal location for charity auctions with plenty of room for silent auction tables on one side and a live auction with dinner, dancing, and a bar on the other side.
There is also enough space for smaller groups to include casino tables and the mechanical bull for Holiday Parties and Corporate Events.
Rustic Chic and Country weddings are also very popular at the Benjamin Ranch.
Many couples have tied the knot there with a ceremony right in the charming barn, followed by a seamless transition into their unique reception space right next door.
In addition to these events we also host several sorority and fraternity parties, as well as Quinceneras, Bar Mitzvahs, Bah Mitzvahs, and class reunions.
Q: How do you decide which location is best for your event?
A: When you call to schedule an event (both locations share the same number), you will speak to one of our personal event planners. Once they get an idea of the size and type of event you are wishing to have, they can recommend which location is the best choice.
For example, at Faulkner’s Ranch we specifically designed and built it for company picnics, team-buiding, and outdoor weddings. There, the party barn seats up to 200 with an outside picnic pavilion that seats up to 400. Faulkner’s Ranch can accommodate groups of 1200 or less.
All of our Pony Parties are now at Faulkner’s in the adorable Pony Party facility. We also do our Pony Camp there now too, as well as our Pumpkin Season events.
Q: Do the Benjamin’s still own the Ranch?
A: Long story short, Bob and Marilyn Faulkner have leased the entire Benjamin Ranch for over 20 years and have produced all of the events inside.
At first Bob leased it from the Benjamin Family, then a developer in CA bought it and most recent a developer in KC owns it. In 2007 we thought we had to be out of the Ranch due to the proposed Wizards soccer stadium development. The plan then was that they were going to tear down the Ranch. That was when we found the property on Raytown Road. We bought it and developed an entertainment centered ranch of our very own that is today known as Faulkner’s Ranch! It was around that time that the plan to build the soccer staduim fell through. We were asked to stay at the Benjamin Ranch location, so we did. And for now, we have 2 places to have a party!
At first Bob leased it from the Benjamin Family, then a developer in CA bought it and most recent a developer in KC owns it. In 2007 we thought we had to be out of the Ranch due to the proposed Wizards soccer stadium development. The plan then was that they were going to tear down the Ranch. That was when we found the property on Raytown Road. We bought it and developed an entertainment centered ranch of our very own that is today known as Faulkner’s Ranch! It was around that time that the plan to build the soccer staduim fell through. We were asked to stay at the Benjamin Ranch location, so we did. And for now, we have 2 places to have a party!
Q: I used to come out to the rodeo every year with my family. Do they still do those?
While the JC Pro Rodeo no longer takes place, we still produce private custom rodeos at the Benjamin Ranch. If your company is interested in throwing a private rodeo, just give us a call and we’ll tell you all about it!
So there you have it folks! That’s the deal with Benjamin Ranch! It’s still alive and kicking!
If you’re interested in having an event there, or would like to find out which location is better suited for your event, just give us a call at 816-761-1234.
And now’s the perfect time! Book your Country Christmas Party at the Benjamin Ranch today!!!
Have a great day ya’ll!
Word From the Herd: BOTAR Party!
Posted on December 6, 2012
One of our most favorite recent events has to be
the BOTAR party at Benjamin Ranch!
In case you are unfamiliar with the name, BOTAR stands for the Belles of the American Royal.
And let us tell you something…
These folks sure do know how to party!
On October 12th they had the barn all decked out with fantastic western decor! The night was alive with a mechanical bull and live band! The food was fabulous and the drinks were flowing!
Don’t believe us?
Don’t believe us?
Just check out the AMAZING pictures below!
Our Benjamin Ranch location is the perfect place to host a company holiday party! For more information on our Country Christmas packages CLICK HERE or give us a call at 816-761-1234!
Have a great day ya’ll!
Ponies and Pancakes Recap
Posted on December 3, 2012
Remember when we told you about our last
Well, we are thrilled to say that it was a huge success!
Between the raffle ticket sales and the wonderful turnout at the Ponies and Pancakes event, the Herschberger family raised $11,000 to put towards getting Harley his amazing companion!!!
Isn’t that awesome?!?!
Here is what Rita Olson-Stawicki, a long-time pardner of the ranch and co-worker/friend of Harley’s dad had to say about the special day:
“A very special thank you to Bob Faulkner, Marilyn Faulkner, Christy Faulkner-Loneman, Mike Foley, Mike Gosselin, Zack Gosselin and the entire staff at the Faulkner Ranch. The fundraiser was a great success due to all of your hard work and dedication. This would NOT had happen if it wasn’t for all of you. An 8 year old little boy’s life is going to be greatly enhanced because of all that you did. Thank you and be safe.”
Once again, thank you to everyone who came out and helped make a difference!
Stay tuned for our next Ponies and Pancakes event and in the meantime, enjoy some of our favorite pictures from the day!
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| Bob and Rita |
Word From the Herd: A Scarecrow Shoutout
Posted on December 2, 2012
Every year, a week or so after the Pumpkin Season has come to the close, when everyone has had a chance to re-group, re-fresh, and start to miss each other, we have a special little tradition that takes place here at the ranch:
Our Scarecrow Luncheon.
At this special get-together, we like to honor our fearless scarecrow tour guides are joined by invited guests, cashiers, our trusty hayride driver, and the PPP’s (aka Pumpkin/Parking/and Pavilion Helpers).
So of course, we wanted to share with you all about just how amazing they are!
After all, these awesome people deserve more recognition than we could ever give them!
This yearly tradition is always a blast and this year was no exception!
As usual, the luncheon started with a little mixing, mingling, and catching up.
Next it was time to bless the food and dig in!
Next it was time to bless the food and dig in!
This year we served our new Holiday Buffet to include our smoked sliced turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, creamy corn, green salad with feta, red onion, and cranberries tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette with warm yeast rolls and butter. Yummmmmm!!!! So good!
Of course, there can never be enough food!
Our scarecrows are simply the best and brought pumpkin desserts ranging from Karen’s homemade pumpkin pie to Betty’s pumpkin cream cheese cake!
Our scarecrows are simply the best and brought pumpkin desserts ranging from Karen’s homemade pumpkin pie to Betty’s pumpkin cream cheese cake!
After our delicious lunch it was time for the special program and awards. The program began with a few slides of our beautiful pumpkin patch and recognition to all that made it possible.
Fransisco Guzman was recognized for his outstanding work in the field this year.
Visitors to the patch really enjoyed the addition of the birdhouse gourds, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, and variety of sunflowers that he planted. He is also the one with the green thumb that helped two of our pumpkins grow bigger than we ever expected. You might recall that we even had a Facebook guessing game contest to guess the weight where the winner won a free pumpkin!
Visitors to the patch really enjoyed the addition of the birdhouse gourds, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, and variety of sunflowers that he planted. He is also the one with the green thumb that helped two of our pumpkins grow bigger than we ever expected. You might recall that we even had a Facebook guessing game contest to guess the weight where the winner won a free pumpkin!
Fransisco was also called up to share his story about his special pumpkin hybrid from Mexico. You see, two years ago he brought back from his native country a handful of Indian Pumpkin Seeds. Indian Pumpkins are grey in color and make the best seeds for toasting and eating – a love that both Fransisco and Christine share. The first year he planted them he got 4 plants and 2 pumpkins. This year he planted them again and got several pumpkins, but the most interesting part of the story is that now the pumpkins have crossed and made their own variety!
We owe so much to Fransisco and his crew, Antonio and Pedro, for all that they do. Their hard work in the patch is what brings so much joy and excitement to the many school children that visit throughout the season and search for the perfect pumpkin to take home from their field trip to Faulkner’s.
Another highlight of the program included a slide show from the season set to the song “We Are Family”. Although our scarecrows and staff are not related by blood, we can’t help but feel that they are. We could not host 10,000 school children in 20 days without this amazing, caring, smart, funny, compassionate team that works together for the common cause of sharing our love children and pumpkins!
To close the ceremony, each scarecrow and Farm Loneman (our wonderful hayride driver) was given a special pumpkin with a number on it. The number represented the number of years that they have worked at Faulkner’s. It is amazing to think that our 2012 team had 68 total years of pumpkin experience together!
Christine said, “As I totaled up the years I couldn’t have been more proud to know that each school child and teacher that visited the Ranch this pumpkin season was in such good hands. We even tallied the number of hayrides that Farmer Loneman had given throughout his 13 years – 10,920!!!
Incredible!”
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| Tracy – 1 year, Glenna – 1 year, Jennifer -1 year, Morgan – 1 year, Pam – 3 years, Nona – 7 years, Karen – 11 years, Betty -13 years, Farmer Loneman – 13 years |
The rest of the luncheon was spent sharing funny stories that are now wonderful 2012 Pumpkin Season memories!
In conclusion, we just can’t thank our awesome team enough for their hard work and dedication! It’s humbling really to be surrounded by such wonderful people that have the best interest of our business in mind on a daily basis. We just can’t thank you enough!
Have a great day ya’ll!
Thanksgiving at Faulkner’s
Posted on November 27, 2012
For the past few years we here at Faulkner’s have started and continued a tradition that has become a favorite for everyone involved:
Our Annual Thanksgiving Day Feast!
On Thanksgiving Day everyone gathers at Faulkner’s Ranch for a huge celebration and dinner.
This year we had around 40 of our friends and family there to take part in all of the fun.
As is tradition, we started out by circling up and saying what we are thankful for.
The only rule is that you can’t repeat what someone else has already said.
From family, friends, and new babies, to employment and togetherness we covered it all.
After our Thankful circle, we say grace and then it is time to eat!
And boy did we ever chow down! This picture of the buffet line doesn’t even do it justice – in fact there were two other tables filled with appetizers and desserts!
There was so much delicious food contributed by everyone that you could barely fit it on your plate!
After everyone was completely stuffed it was time for our favorite game of the night:
White Elephant Pirate Bingo!
Here’s how it works…
When someone wins a Bingo they get to go choose a gift from under the tree.
Everyone brought something that was either from around the house or worth under $5.
Here’s the catch though! That gift can be stolen by future Bingo winners up two times.
Needless to say, it gets a little bit rowdy when those Bingo cards come out!
Here were a few of the amazing gifts from this year…
It’s hard to believe that some of these were never stolen. I wonder why…
Anyway, the rest of the evening was filled with lot of pumpkin pie and laughter.
What about you?
What Thanksgiving traditions do you have?
We’d love to hear all about them!
Have a great day ya’ll!
Thankful
Posted on November 22, 2012
Thanksgiving is a very special time of year that allows us to reflect on all the wonderful blessings that have been bestowed upon us. Here at Faulkner’s we have so much to be thankful for.
Just see below…
“I am thankful for all of our customers that have graciously supported the ranch this past year and our wonderful staff that tirelessly serves them.”
– Bob Faulkner, Owner
– Bob Faulkner, Owner
“Of course I am thankful for my hard-working husband and healthy, happy kids. Professionally I am thankful for my mentor. To work 16 years alongside someone with over 50 years of experience has been incredible. I have learned so much from his wisdom and feel that every successful business person needs a mentor such as I have in Bob. Also, I am thankful for my mother who with Bob really built our event planning business from nothing. And lastly, I’m thankful for the opportunity to conduct business freely (for the most part) in the land that I love, provide jobs, be creative, and love what I do!”
– Christine Loneman, Manager
– Christine Loneman, Manager
“I am thankful that I get to be part of this wonderful family business even though we live three hours away. I’m also thankful for my loving husband, my cuddly pooch, our warm home, and of course, our beautiful baby girl that is on the way!”
– Kelly Jo Jordan, Director of Social Media
– Kelly Jo Jordan, Director of Social Media
“I am thankful to have Benjamin Ranch and Faulkner’s Ranch in my family’s life! The work experience it offers is incredible and the memories it offers will be treasured later in life. The fun and family togetherness it offers is an amazing blessing. The ranch fulfills a place of belongingness and without it, our family would incomplete.”
– Lisa Gosselin, Creative Genius
– Lisa Gosselin, Creative Genius
And of course, we here at Faulkner’s are all thankful for something absolutely wonderful – YOU!
So, from all of us, to all of you,
Happy Thanksgiving folks!
Throwback Thursday: Dosey Doe!
Posted on November 15, 2012
Have you ever heard how the Faulkner family began their family business?
It may surprise you that it all began over 50 years ago with a little dosey doe!
That’s right!
It all started in the 1950’s when Bud and Mary Faulkner began teaching square and round dancing lessons!
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| Bud and Mary Faulkner |
While Bud was the caller, Mary recruited people for the classes. The classes were such a success that there was an actual shortage of square dance apparel in the Kansas City area!
Mary seized the opportunity and started ordering square dance shoes, petticoats, pantaloons, and dresses which she would sell out of their house. One day, Bud came home from his full time job, hoping to lay down for a nap, only to find a group of women at the house shopping away.
It was the very next day that Bud found the location at 7914 Wornall Road to open Kansas City’s first square dance apparel store.
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| Faulkner’s Western Store |
To this day, the Faulkner family still loves to pay tribute to the dance that started it all. Hence why this year they invited the Crazy Eight Square Dancing Club to perform at the Pumpkin Farm.
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| The Crazy Eights Square Dancing Club performed at the Pumpkin Farm this October. |
To read more about how the Faulkner’s grew into the family business they have today, click here.
Have a great day ya’ll and stay tuned for more fun from Faulkner’s!
Ponies and Pancakes: A Chance to Give Back
Posted on November 14, 2012
Join us this Saturday from 8am to 11am
for another Ponies and Pancakes
to help raise money for 4 Paws for Ability.
4 Paws for Ability is the wonderful organization that will provide Harley Herschberger, an awesome little 8 year old boy who is trying to live with high functioning autism, with an amazing companion. By providing Harley with a service dog he will be able to handle so many of life’s challenges. From assisting him in different situations to comforting him and protecting him from harm, Harley’s new service dog will be a life-changing best friend.
For more info on Harley, please visit: https://wwws.facebook.com/4PawsForHarley
So join us for a fun morning and help make a huge difference in this little boy’s life!
We’ll have pony rides and ALL YOU CAN EAT pancakes, sausage, and drinks from Chris Cakes!
Ticket Prices:
Adults and Children 12 and older: $10
Children: Ages 4 to 11 $5
Children: 3 and under FREE
*Pony Rides, Zip Line, Bags of Feed for Animals at Petting Zoo $2.00
Tickets are available at the door the day of event or can be purchased in advance by emailing michelle@ifamilykc.com
(just put “Tickets 4 Harley” in subject line.)
(just put “Tickets 4 Harley” in subject line.)
There will also be a raffle with some totally awesome prizes! Tickets for the raffle are 1 for $5 or 5 for $20.
Some of the raffle prizes include:
A Fire Pit donated by Cripple Creek Rock Co ($450 value)
*(There is a 2 ticket minimum to enter for firepit)
Fun Run Birthday Party
One night stay at the Holiday Inn and Breakfast for 4
One Day Horse Camp from Mariways Stable
Beautiful Jewelry
Mary Kay, BeautiControl, Silpada, and Scentsy Products
Plus too many gift baskets to mention!!!
There will also be a KC ROYALS PRIZE PACKAGE!!!
The prize package includes autographed World Series Items, a private dinner with a member of the 85 World Series Team, and 2 Dugout Seats to a game of your choice with a parking pass!
Tickets for Royals Package are 1 for $10 or 3 for $25. Tickets will be available on 11/17 or by emailing 4PawsforHarley@gmail.com. The drawing for this specific prize will be held on December 15th.
We hope that you can make it to this fun event that helps out an amazing cause!
For more information please contact us here at Faulkner’s Ranch at 816-761-1234 or e-mail 4pawsforharley@gmail.com.
For more information please contact us here at Faulkner’s Ranch at 816-761-1234 or e-mail 4pawsforharley@gmail.com.
To see some of our previous Ponies and Pancakes click the links below:
Have a great day ya’ll and we hope to see you at the ranch this Saturday!
A Great Big Faulkner’s Thank You
Posted on November 8, 2012
Thank you everyone for another wonderful Pumpkin Season!
A good time was had by all and we couldn’t have done it without you!
Check out some of our favorite moments from our
2012 Pumpkin Season!
The fun isn’t over yet though!
Check out what we have in store for the rest of 2012!
and
Have a great day ya’ll!
DIY Pumpkin Lanterns
Posted on October 24, 2012
Halloween is just around the corner.
Light up your walkway for trick-or-treats with these awesome Pumpkin Lantern ideas!
1. Walkway Lantern Pumpkins
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These cuties are easy to make! Just string a wire through small pie pumpkin jack-o-lanterns and hang them on iron shephard’s hooks! Ta da! All done!
2. Classic Pumpkin Lantern
This little beauty is another brilliant creation from our amazing Lisa.
To make these, simple pick up a pie pumpkin. Break the stem off (if you need help, wedge a butterknife or screwdriver at the base of the stem)
After the stem is removed, set a glass candle votive on the top of the pumpkin. For extra safety precautions, we advise either gluing the votive to the top or securing it with some kind of heavy-duty tape.)
Light your candle and place a tall lantern over it.
There you have it! A beautiful piece of fall decor for your front porch or table centerpiece!
3. Carousel Pumpkins
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To make this quick and inexpensive project you’ll need some miniature pumpkins, toothpicks, and tealights/candles.
Start by cutting your mini pumpkin in half. Using a spoon, scrape out all of the seeds and stringy insides. Then, insert toothpicks into the base of your pumpkin, roughly one inch apart. Place tealight/candle inside. Line up the top of your pumpkin with the toothpicks and press gently into place. Hold on to each toothpick (one at a time) and press the top half more firmly into them. Lastly, use a match to light the candle and revel in the glorious glow of your new carousel pumpkins!
4. Jack-O-Lantern Lantern
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Start by hallowing out a small to medium sized pumpkin. Mark your face on the pumpkin before you begin to carve. You’ll want a big section for the mouth since that is where the candle goes. Once you have created a face you like carve that bad boy out! Then, use either a macrame’ plant holder or create your own holder using heavy duty string and metal rings to make a sling. Once you have your pumpkin hung up, place a candle inside, light, and enjoy!
We hope that you are enjoying these fun fall ideas!
Now be sure to stop on by Faulkner’s Pumpkin Farm to pick up your little orange guys. We have them in all shapes and sizes waiting for you to take them home and give them that special creative treatment!
Have a great day ya’ll!
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