Ford County high schooler starts own pumpkin farm

KEMPTON, Ill. (WCIA) — 17-year-old Mason Riebe harvests pumpkins for the community, and year by year his farm has grown to include more than 70 varieties.

Riebe’s parents are farmers, but they had always stuck to the regular corn and soybeans.
That’s until he was going into freshman year in high school when his parents suggested he plant some seeds and see what pops up.

“I wasn’t super looking forward to it or anything because it sounded like another chore, to be honest,” Riebe said.

Riebe would later realize his mom’s nudge into pumpkin farming would sprout into an opportunity to learn, grow and earn some money at the same time.

“He picked 3,000 pumpkins this year. So that’s a lot of pumpkins,” said Lisa Weaver, who was picking out pumpkins at Riebe’s patch in Kempton. “You know, I hope he continues to do it because a lot of people, including myself, like to come here.”

Weaver filled up a wagon with help from the pumpkin farmer.

Riebe has grown with his gourdes over the years. His patch helped him reach Future Farmers of America’s state competition. This year, he wants to go to nationals.

“Three judges in front of me asking me questions and I have to answer about my patch,” Riebe said. “So, I think it’s given me a lot of good experience with interviews and interacting with other people on a professional level.”

He said he has learned about bookkeeping as well.

Riebe keeps track of pumpkins sold, about 1,500 so far this fall, and how much money he spends and makes.

He sold about 1,700 pumpkins last year, and in the past, he’s donated leftover pumpkins to nursing homes.

“Since my brand is Mason’s Peculiar Pumpkins, I like to keep it really interesting,” Riebe said. “Keep circulating in new varieties just to bump my business up more than, say, just going to Walmart and looking at the fever ideas that they have.”

Now, what started as a chore has become a labor of love.

“It’s another big thanks to everyone who supported me along the way, especially my parents,” Riebe said. “My parents have helped me so much and I definitely couldn’t have done it without them.”

For information on how you can get one of Mason’s Peculiar Pumpkins you can visit his Facebook page .

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