Under Construction!
Posted on November 7, 2014
We’ve got something exciting underway!
If you came out to Faulkner’s Ranch this Pumpkin Season, you might have noticed a little construction going on…
Welp, what you were seeing was the beginning of our
BRAND NEW CATERING KITCHEN!
BRAND NEW CATERING KITCHEN!
Food brings people together and we love the catering team that we have assembled. We have put a lot of time, energy, and most importantly love into the menu items that we serve.
That is why we are so excited to build this catering kitchen so that the food can be prepared and served fresh adjacent to the banquet barn and picnic pavilion. This kitchen has been designed to suit our needs based on the specific menu items we will serve. It will even have a smoker built right into the kitchen to permit smoking food in any weather from the comforts of inside! How awesome is that?! But wait, it gets better! It will also have a concessions area to service that need during our Pumpkin Season. Thankfully it’ll be done way before next year’s Pumpkin Season. In fact, the catering kitchen will be ready to use just in time for our Holiday Parties!
Needless to say, we are so, so, so excited about this new addition! We can’t wait for you to experience all of the yumminess that it will bring!
Have a great day, y’all!
Star Spotlight: Reggie Regg the Magic Man
Posted on October 23, 2014
It’s time to meet the next star of our Star Spotlights and let us tell you folks – this guy is going places!
Most of your already know him and love him…
Meet Reggie Gray
aka
Reggie Regg the Magic Man!
aka
Reggie Regg the Magic Man!
Reggie is one of our favorite stars here at Faulkner’s Ranch! We can always tell when he has taken the stage because of the roars of laughter coming from that direction. His show is hip and hilarious! Not only that, but he is truly inspiring, as you see from his little Q&A below.
That’s right, we were able to catch up with Reggie in between shows and TV tapings to find out a little more about our favorite magic man.
Hi Reggie! Can you tell us what people can expect when they come to see your show at Faulkner’s Ranch?
Reggie Regg the Magic Man will be starting at 11am – noon by making amazing balloon creations for the kids- dogs, flowers, teddy bears, swords and much more! By 12:15pm its “SHOWTIME” with a 30 minute action packed show including magic, live animals (dove and rabbit), audience participation, age appropriate comedy, and LOTS of FUN! At the end of the show the kids will even be allowed to hold the dove and pet the bunny!
We have to ask, how did you start learning magic?
After having a magician at my 6th birthday party I was hooked! With the support of my parents and the community I got my first magic kit and started practicing on my peers and neighborhood kids. By the age of 12 I was a professional “kid” magician performing throughout Baltimore, MD. My mom was my chauffeur until I was able to drive myself at age 16, lol!
You’re a big TV star now! Can you tell us a little about H3TV?
H3TV is a pioneering movement which is sweeping across the country. Our kid’s TV show is called “Keep It Moving” and its TV you watch on your FEET! Its all about keeping kids physically and mentally ACTIVE through our original music, products, and entertainment. Our partners include the Lebron James Family Foundation, Science City, the College Basketball Experience, and US Toy just to name a few! The first episode can be watched at www.H3TV.com OR Time Warner “On Demand” starting in November. Lebron James himself is even in the 1st episode!
If you could tell your audience one thing, what would it be?
This could possibly be the last year that Reggie Regg the Magic Man is available at local events! Make sure to come out to Faulkner’s Ranch to see what all the HYPE is about! Award winning entertainment with positive messages to motivate our youth!
We definitely need more of that!
Don’t miss Reggie Regg the Magic Man at Faulkner’s Ranch this upcoming weekend, our final weekend of Pumpkin Season! He’ll be performing around the ranch on Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 1pm, with his comedy magic show at 12pm both days.
For a complete performance schedule and details, click here.
To follow Reggie on Facebook, click here.
To follow Reggie on Twitter, click here.
Have a great day, y’all and Happy Pumpkin Season!
Star Spotlight: Mr. Stinky Feet!
Posted on October 12, 2014
We are SO SO SO excited to tell y’all about the next star on our Star Spotlight series.
He is Kansas City’s best kid’s rocker, Jim Cosgrove,
or as you know and love him,
Mr. Stinky Feet!
Jim is one of America’s leading family entertainers. It’s no wonder that both young and old adore his shows. His concerts are high-energy, full of audience interaction and laughter.
While Jim grew up in Kansas City, he has since seen the world. He has traveled North America and Europe sharing his message of hanging on to the wonder of youth and loving yourself and your neighbors. Along the way, he’s released seven CDs and two DVDs! In addition to these award-wining and critically acclaimed accomplishments, he’s also performed twice at the White House Easter Egg Roll and co-founded Jiggle Jam, the country’s largest family music festival.
Speaking of family, Jim’s family is an integral part to his success. His wife, Jeni, is his booking agent and tour manager. Their daughters, Lyda and Willa, (who we feel like we’ve watched grow up before our very eyes), are also a part of the traveling team and even perform onstage sometimes!
 |
| Jim and his family, Pumpkin Season 2012 |
Jim has been performing every year at Faulkner’s Ranch since way back when we were located over on Chipman Road. So, you can imagine just how excited we get every October when he returns to give our guests an amazing, one-of-a-kind concert!
Even though he is busy, busy, busy with concerts, we were able to catch up with Jim “Mr. Stinky Feet” Cosgrove for a little Q&A.
Howdy Mr. Stinky Feet! Can you tell us what people can expect when they come to see your show at Faulkner’s Ranch?
Kids are the stars of my show, not me! My show is a fully interactive jam that involves the whole family. As I always say, “A family that rocks together, rocks!”
How did you get started writing songs for kids?
I’ve been writing since I was a kid – stories and poems mostly. I started writing songs when my nieces and nephews were young and they liked them, so I started to sing them for other kids. Now, I get to write for my own daughters.
What is your favorite song to perform?
That’s a tough one. It’s like asking me which child is my favorite. I guess it depends on the day and the audience, but any song that gets families engaged with each other.
If you could tell your audience one thing, what would it be?
Sing and dance every chance you get, even if it’s in the cereal aisle at the grocery store!
Thanks, Mr. Stinky Feet! You’re the best!
We are so excited that Jim will be performing at Faulkner’s Ranch this Sunday at 1pm for our Sound of Music Weekend. The concert is included with admission, so come on by for a great show!
 |
| Mr. Stinky Feet and Sheriff T. Texas Terry, Pumpkin Season 2013 |
For a complete performance schedule, click here.
For more info on the amazing Jim “Mr. Stinky Feet” Cosgrove, click here.
Have a great day, y’all! Hope to see you out at the ranch soon!
Star Spotlight: Granny Oops!
Posted on October 4, 2014
This weekend is Grandparents Weekend at Faulkner’s Ranch. So as part of our Star Spotlight series, we are super excited to introduce you to one of the sassiest and funniest ladies we know, Mary White, or as you know her, Granny Oops!
Granny Oops is not your ordinary Granny. She always has something to share on just about any subject! From storytelling and magic, she delights kids and adults as she presents her program on Grandparents and how special they are. With a mixture of magic and fun, her show is sure to put a smile on your face.
This will be Granny Oops 3rd year at Faulkner’s Ranch and we are so excited to have her joining us once again! We were even able to catch up with her for a little Q&A.
Hi Granny Oops! We are so excited to have you back at the ranch this year. For those who have never seen your show, can you tell us what they can expect?
People can expect to see a program that shares about how great Grandparents are. I will be entertaining with a little magic and storytelling and all the time sharing about what special things grandparents do and give us.
What is your favorite thing about performing at Faulkner’s Ranch?
My favorite thing about performing at Faulkner Ranch is how nice all the people are there. I love the time I get to spend at Faulkner’s Ranch and there is no better time than Fall!
We just have to ask, what is your favorite fall treat?
I love all fall treats, from pumpkin pie and apple cider, to a big bowl of chili.
If you could tell your little audience members one thing, what would it be?
If I could tell my audience members one thing it would be “Life is a gift so enjoy each day” and “don’t get hung up on the little stuff”.
Such great advice!
For more wonderful lessons, stop on by and see Granny Oops this weekend!
You can find her roaming the ranch on Saturday and Sunday with a special show at 1:30pm both days.
Also, to show our appreciation for grandparents, all grandparents will receive 1/2 off admission with the purchase of a grandchild’s admission.
For more info on Granny Oops (aka Mary White), visit her Facebook page or click here.
Have a great day, y’all!
We hope to see you out on the ranch this weekend!
Star Spotlight: Sheriff T. Texas Terry
Posted on October 2, 2014
This year we are so excited to launch a brand new blog series, Star Spotlights.
After all, we are so fortunate to get the chance to work with and showcase the finest talent that Kansas City has to offer during our annual Pumpkin Season and it’s about darn time that y’all got to know them a little better!
First up, is the most hilarious, wild, talented cowboy we know…
Meet Terry DaVolt,
or as you know and love him,
Sheriff T. Texas Terry!
or as you know and love him,
Sheriff T. Texas Terry!
Terry has been entertaining audiences all around the world since 1983 and has been performing for the Faulkner Family for over 25 years!
His love for entertaining began when he picked up a book at the town library called “How to Juggle.” From there it was clear that entertaining was in his blood! He even went to Clown College! That’s right, he attended the famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College.
Fun Fact: Terry became the only “walk on” student in the history of the famous circus. He showed up the day before Clown College started, no audition or prior acceptance, and impressed the Dean so much with his passion and desire to perform that he was accepted on the spot! How awesome is that?
There’s no clowning around though when it comes to this man’s talent. Since his clown college days he has traveled around the world showin’ off his stuff! He has toured with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the Brooks & Dunn’s Neon Circus & Wild West Show Summer Concert Tours, performed at President Reagan’s White House Easter Celebration, and much MUCH more. For the full list of his jaw-dropping resume click here.
So, it goes without saying that we have been beyond blessed to have had the chance to work with T. Texas Terry for all of these years.
He’s a busy, busy man, sometimes being on the road as much as 231 day a year! However, we were able to catch up with him for a little Q&A on what you can expect when you come see him this Pumpkin Season!
Howdy Terry! Can you tell us what people can expect when they come to see your show at Faulkner s Ranch?
My T. Texas Terry Comedy Wild West Show will have lots of laughs, audience participation and high energy fun with the wild west skills of rope spinning, whip cracking and even music with the world’s first cowboy musical instrument!
Speaking of your show, you do so many awesome tricks. What is your favorite trick to perform?
My most favorite trick is putting smiles on little kids faces! My two other favorite tricks are doing the Texas Skip with my big lariat and then cutting a flower in half from my mouth with a bull whip!
Any advice to little cowboys and cowgirls?
You can accomplish anything if you’re willing to stay in school, always believe in yourself and never, ever give up on your dreams!
Terry, you’re just the best in the Wild Wild West!
You can catch Sheriff T. Texas Terry’s shows every Saturday and Sunday at Faulkner’s Pumpkin Ranch (except for October 18th)! Trust us, you don’t want to miss it!
Have a great day, ya’ll!
We hope to see you out on the ranch this October!
Pumpkin Season is Here!
Posted on
This week has been super exciting for three reasons…
1. The Royals and the Chiefs won this week!
2. We celebrated our three-year blogiversary.
and perhaps the most important of all…
3. Pumpkin Season has officially begun!
That’s right! We swung open our gates bright and early this morning for our 2014 Pumpkin Season! We couldn’t be more excited about everything that we have in store this October. It’s gonna be a super fun month!
For our complete Pumpkin Season event schedule, click here.
Plus, be sure to check back here for some fun new blog series coming up. Starting tomorrow we’ll be showcase our amazing talent with our Star Profiles series. We’ve also got some fun behind the scenes news, as well as some brand new pumpkin ideas and recipes. You won’t want to miss it!
Hope to see y’all out on the ranch this October!!
PS – Be sure to “LIKE” our Facebook page to stay current on the latest ranch news and events. Right now we even have a contest going to win a VIP Pumpkin Season experience. Check the top of the page for details!
Word From the Herd: Bugsy Tribute
Posted on October 24, 2013
It might sound silly to do a tribute to a giant inflatable toy, but “Bugsy the Caterpillar” held a special place in our hearts. Here is Christine with the Word from the Herd on our favorite caterpillar.
When I think of Bugsy, there are so many things that come to mind. He was the the very first “big purchase” my dad and I made together for the Pumpkin Farm. We were up in Canada at a pumpkin convention and I made the plunge and bought him. At the time I was preggers with Glory and I remember being so scared because it was a MAJOR purchase. Little did I know that I would become so emotionally attached.
Here were are now, fifteen years later. Literally thousands of kids have crawled through him millions of times. I have personally sang “This is the way the leaves fall down!” hundreds of times while I scarecrowed field trips as they waited in line to take their turn crawling through his obstacles.
When we pulled him out for this year’s Pumpkin Season, I looked in his eyes and he said, “Christine, I should have retired 10 years ago, but I just love Pumpkin Season so much, I hung on. Y’all stitch me up and put me out year after year and I have been faithful through the elements and so much more. But I think it’s time to retire.” But how could we retire Bugsy?! To us, he is irreplaceable. So, we did the best thing we could think of. We searched online and found one just like him! Same age, less used and less worn. Safer, but still just as wonderful! We sent our go-to guy, Mike Foley, on a road trip all the way to Indiana to pick up our new farm friend. It sounds like he got quite the treatment:
When we pulled him out for this year’s Pumpkin Season, I looked in his eyes and he said, “Christine, I should have retired 10 years ago, but I just love Pumpkin Season so much, I hung on. Y’all stitch me up and put me out year after year and I have been faithful through the elements and so much more. But I think it’s time to retire.” But how could we retire Bugsy?! To us, he is irreplaceable. So, we did the best thing we could think of. We searched online and found one just like him! Same age, less used and less worn. Safer, but still just as wonderful! We sent our go-to guy, Mike Foley, on a road trip all the way to Indiana to pick up our new farm friend. It sounds like he got quite the treatment:
All of our ranch kiddos have grown up with Bugsy as a part of their fall memories, so it brings so much joy to know that this next generation will get to experience Bugsy in all of his glory!
We Love Ya, Bugsy, old and new!
– Cowgirl Christine
Come play in our new Bugsy now through October 31st at the Pumpkin Farm! We’re open everyday from 10am to 6pm!
Have a great day, ya’ll!
How to Plan a Fall Craft Night
Posted on October 18, 2013
Hosting a Craft Night (or a Pinterest Party as many like to call them nowadays) is easy and fun!
Here are a few tips and tricks to make your Fall Craft Night a success!
The Food:
Make it easy on yourself and go potluck style! As the host, cook a dish that can serve a large group (we love this tortilla soup recipe). Then ask your guests to bring everything else. You can even offer up ideas such as salad, sides, desserts, etc. Feel like making dessert too? Try our easy Faulkner’s Fallfetti Popcorn recipe which is great to snack on while crafting!
The Drinks:
If you want to go the festive route, we recommend this easy Fall Apple Cider Party Punch that we shared yesterday. However, you can also serve something simple like water and tea. Don’t hesitate to ask guests to bring a bottle of wine.
The Decor:
Keep it simple and stay with your normal fall decor. Don’t have a Fall centerpiece on your table yet? Use our tips and tricks to create one of your own! Also, make sure that you have enough space on your countertops or table to put all of the potluck food. Your counters may look bare before your guests arrive, but trust us, once they are there you will be searching for space to put the delicious dishes.
The Craft:
Here are the things to consider when choosing a craft.
- Cost: Since you will be purchasing materials for several crafts, keep this in mind. Choose crafts that you can buy the materials in bulk like ribbon, buttons, etc.
- Cleanup: Either choose a craft that does not make a huge mess or provide a small trashcan on the table to put materials.
- Tools/Materials Needed: Avoid choosing crafts that require hot glue guns since those tend to be messy. Gluing one thing to a pumpkin is no big deal, however if every single thing needs to be hot glued you will find it to be troublesome. You want the craft to be something you can talk during, instead of something that requires too much attention.
- Can your guests take it home right away?: You want to avoid using paints or things that will have to dry.
Two great places to find your craft are here on our blog. You can see our pumpkin ideas right here. Or you can check out our Pinterest Boards dedicated to Pumpkin Ideas and Cool Country Crafts.
Other Things to Consider:
Music sets the mood. Set your iPod or computer to Pandora and crank it up. For Fall, we love the Mumford and Sons or Today’s Country Hits stations.
Before parties, it is always a good idea to turn the thermostat down. All of those extra bodies can cause it to get warm.
For more Fall party ideas, check out our Pinterest Board!
Follow these tips and you’ll be sure to have a Fall Craft Night that everyone will enjoy!
Have a great day, ya’ll!
Pumpkin Beauty Tips + A Pumpkin Spice Sugar Body Scrub
Posted on October 16, 2013
There is no argument that pumpkin is a yummy treat. Well, maybe there is an argument but we don’t want to hear it. Did you know though that pumpkin isn’t only delicious, but it is also great for your health and beauty? That’s right! This gourd can make you gorgeous!
Here are a few fun facts about pumpkin:
- Pumpkins are rich in nutrients and antioxidants that can help your skin attain a healthy glow.
- Do you have sensitive skin? Are you prone to blemishes? Then add pumpkin seeds to your diet! They’re packed with zinc, which has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that may help calm irritated skin from the inside out.
- Pumpkin enzymes can soothe and protect your skin.
- Pumpkin are chocked-full of vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, which are awesome for your skin.
Want to cash in on the perks of pumpkins? Then follow the simple recipe below to make your own Pumpkin Body Scrub that will leave your skin feeling SO SOFT (plus, it smells SUPER yummy!).
Pumpkin Spice Sugar Body Scrub
INGREDIENTS:
1 ½ Cup of Sugar
¼ Cup of Canned Pumpkin (organic is preferred)
1 Tablespoon of Almond Oil or Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon of Vegetable Glycerin (optional)
A Light Sprinkle of Pumpkin Pie Spice (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS:
To make this wonderful scrub, simply mix all of the ingredients together and store in an airtight container. Once a week, rub this scrub all over your body in a circular motion while you’re in the shower and rinse with warm water. In order for the benefits to last, make sure you apply a moisturizer after you have rinsed off each scrub. This will not only enhance the benefits of each treatment but will also prolong the effects.
1 ½ Cup of Sugar
¼ Cup of Canned Pumpkin (organic is preferred)
1 Tablespoon of Almond Oil or Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon of Vegetable Glycerin (optional)
A Light Sprinkle of Pumpkin Pie Spice (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS:
To make this wonderful scrub, simply mix all of the ingredients together and store in an airtight container. Once a week, rub this scrub all over your body in a circular motion while you’re in the shower and rinse with warm water. In order for the benefits to last, make sure you apply a moisturizer after you have rinsed off each scrub. This will not only enhance the benefits of each treatment but will also prolong the effects.
Have a great day, ya’ll!
PS – Don’t forget to come see us this weekend at the Pumpkin Farm! It’s Wild Western Weekend! YEE-HAW!
How to Make a Centerpiece with Real Pumpkins
Posted on October 14, 2013
Recently, the lovely people of Cameron’s Home Furnishings invited us to teach a class at their store on decorating with real pumpkins. First things first, if you have never been to their store in downtown Lee’s Summit, go there now! Everything is absolutely beautiful – you could spend hours in there shopping your little heart away!
Anyway, back to the pumpkins! We spent an evening with almost 30 lovely ladies, sharing with them our favorite tips and tricks for using real pumpkins in centerpieces and displays.
Of course, we love our blog readers so much that we just had to share those secrets with you too. Enjoy!
First of all, remember this little poem when it comes to decorating centerpieces:
Base
Think Big
Fill, Line, or Bunch
Tweak to Add a Punch!
Let’s break that down for ya!
Base – Always start out with a base to give yourself a boundaries. This can be a table runner, a piece of fabric, a tray, a basket, a mirror, a tree stump, anything! If you want something a bit more dramatic, choose something that elevates your centerpiece from the table. If you’re looking for something convenient with little kids around, choose a tray or basket that you can easily move.
Think Big – Once you have your base, the next step is to add your biggest items. We usually recommend adding at least three large items that are slightly different heights to create a visual triangle. This is a great place to add your pumpkins or gourds. By the way, pie pumpkins (the middle sized) work great for this. Also, you don’t want any of your items to be over 8″ tall if you are using this on a table. Some people recommend nothing over 1 foot, but that seems to block a lot of people’s views across the table. Remember: You want them to be talking about the centerpiece, not over it!
Fill, Line, or Bunch – Next is the fun part! This is where you start to make your centerpiece come to life. There are three main ways that you can put together a centerpiece. You can fill it (i.e. put a bunch of pumpkins and pine cones into a basket), you can line it (pumpkins and candles in a row), or you can bunch it (create a vignette using pumpkins and decorative items). If you are putting a display together and it just doesn’t seem right, try switching up what you are using. We can usually guarantee that one of these three will work.
Tweak to Add a Punch – This is the step where you look back and see what is needed/missing. Maybe it is color, so you can throw in some bright mini pumpkins. Maybe it needs more texture, so you can add some leaves. Maybe you’re missing height and can throw in a taller lantern. Play around with it and have fun! Remember: You can always add something and remove it. Sometimes you’ll be surprised at how something unusual will make a great impact!
When It Comes to Shopping for Your Centerpiece…
First, know your style. One of the easiest ways to do this is to create a Pinterest Board and see what you pin the most.
Second, know how to pick the right pumpkins (ones that will last). You can find our Pumpkin Picking Tips here!
Third, when it comes to purchasing the other items, we recommend three things:
1. Choose items that you can use year-round. You’ll see that in almost all of the images, several of the items can be used outside of Fall.
2. Invest in versatile items. Pine cones, leaves, scary cloth, etc. can all be used several different ways each fall season.
3. When choosing seasonal items, pick ones that you LOVE! You know that feeling when you open up your bin of decorations and get excited over one of your favorite pieces? That’s what you want for almost everything you own! Right now, Cameron’s has the most adorable Fall and Halloween pieces you’ve ever seen! It’s the kind of stuff that you will love for years and years to come!
Trust us, if you follow these tips you’ll be well on your way to having a centerpiece that is the talk of the table!
Have a great day, ya’ll!
PS – Don’t forget to go like our friends at Cameron’s Home Furnishings on Facebook!
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