Nehemiah Ranch is tucked away in the woods of western Hendricks County, and promises to offer a little piece of heaven in a chaotic world. The 34-acre farm offers U-pick sunflowers during the summer, and pumpkin picking, fall festivals, bonfires, hay rides and other autumn activities during the fall.
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Farm Wedding and Event Venue
The Avon ranch began in 2008 by Jeff and Joy Leath, as a venue for weddings and events. It wasn’t uncommon to see live bands, cookouts and scavenger hunts in the adjacent woods.
The Leaths still offer the property for group outings or weekend events, but they were also looking for ways to reach out to their community and share what they felt had been a blessing to them.
In 2009, the Leaths planted a test garden to see what crops would grow. Almost nothing survived, with the exception of a small plot of pumpkins.
The following year the Leath’s organized a free fall festival during the first three Saturdays in October. Since then, they have been welcoming the community with a fall festival on the ranch ever since.
Nehemiah Ranch Fall Festival
During the Nehemiah Ranch Fall Festival, each person receives a s’mores pack, hotdogs and hot chocolate. A fire roars at the center of the campsite, and visitors can participate in hay wagon rides to the pumpkin patch. All of these activities are offered for free.
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“This isn’t about Halloween for us,” the Leaths say. “It’s a celebration of God’s harvest.”
Throughout the years, the Leaths have welcomed anywhere from 450 to 1,700 people throughout the month of October, and they aren’t stopping there. The family has begun growing sunflowers to sell for $1-$3 a piece to supplement the funds needed to operate the fall event. They also maintain a large garden for personal use and donation to local non-profits.
More Info
For more information about Nehemiah Ranch, visit nehemiahranch.org.
