Tag Archives: Georgia agritourism destinations

Pumpkins and Agritourism: Scottsdale Farms Draws Crowds with Fall Festivities and Local Flavor

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Milton, GA |

Whether you’re decorating for Halloween or prepping your favorite Thanksgiving dish, nothing says fall quite like pumpkins. That’s why places like Scottsdale Farms in Milton are a hit this time of year, drawing in families eager to soak up sunshine, snap a few pictures, and of course—pick the perfect pumpkin.

The farm, which started as a family nursery more than 25 years ago, has grown into a full-blown agritourism destination thanks to owner Luca Gianturco’s vision.

“He put his way through college selling Christmas trees. And he had a dream of building a garden center. And uh, pretty much like Field of Dreams—build it and they will come,” said Dan Kaminski, who oversees operations at Scottsdale Farms. “It’s just great to see the kids having fun, the families taking pictures. They do their whole decorating for fall. We have corn stalks, bales of hay—it’s a real experience.”

While the fall rush brings thousands of visitors, it also serves another important purpose—keeping employees working year-round.

“The key is to keep things going for our employees year-round,” Kaminski explained. “So, in order to provide that year-round employment, we had to come up with other ideas to keep them busy. We roll into spring, then summer, where we do a lot of plantings, and then into fall activities. We plant the corn maze, we grow the pumpkins—it’s all part of the plan.”

And pumpkins, without a doubt, are the main attraction. From tiny gourds to giant jack-o’-lanterns, from smooth white pumpkins to bumpy orange varieties—there’s something for everyone.

“It’s a process,” Kaminski said. “There’s a lot of insects that hinder the process, but we’ve got a team that does a great job with the guidelines and the growing timeframe in order to have them ready for the season. We probably have fifteen to twenty ornamental pumpkin types in addition to traditional jack-o’-lanterns.”

For varieties that don’t grow well in Georgia’s warmer climate, Scottsdale sources pumpkins from cooler regions across the country.

“So, it’s sourced throughout the country—mostly the Carolinas and some from Michigan,” said Kaminski. “The growing conditions are a little bit better there. We look at what we’ve brought in in past years, and we bring in a good percentage of what’s available: ornamental, unique colors. That’s the kind of stuff we look for.”

Whether it’s for baking, carving, or just taking pictures in a patch full of pumpkins, fall agritourism spots like Scottsdale Farms are making it easy for Georgians to embrace the season—and support local agriculture in the process.

By: Damon Jones

Rooted in Family: Cress Creeks Sheep Farm Brings Farming, Flavor, and Fun to Ellijay

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Ellijay, GA |

What began as a family trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains turned into something much more for Lee and Mindy Forbes. After visiting from Florida, they fell in love with the peaceful North Georgia setting—but weren’t sure what kind of future it held for them. That changed with one question to their son.

“We had kids that were just coming out of high school and asked them what they wanted to do with their futures,” says Lee Forbes. “Our son Hayden said he wanted to be a farmer. So, this was really set up as a namesake for him.”

That moment sparked the beginning of Cress Creeks Sheep Farm, a family-run operation now thriving in the mountains of Ellijay. More than a business, the farm has become a new way of life—one the family wouldn’t trade for anything.

“I enjoy the peace,” says Mindy Forbes. “No traffic, no honking, no noise. I absolutely love the animals and feeding them every morning. They become your friends.”

Lee agrees, saying the work may be constant, but it never feels like a burden.

“It is a daily experience for sure,” he says. “But when you wake up wanting to go to work, doing something you love, it’s not a challenge to get out of bed in the morning.”

Their commitment to raising sheep year-round—paired with intentional breed selection—has set their lamb apart from imported meat commonly found on grocery shelves.

“You’ll find that a lot of imported lamb comes from wool-producing sheep,” explains Lee. “Those breeds produce lanolin, which gives the meat a much gamier flavor. We’ve chosen an American hair sheep from Vermont that sheds like a dog and doesn’t produce that oil, resulting in a milder, more steak-like taste.”

That unique flavor has helped grow interest in their farm store, which now sees more than twice the foot traffic it did just a year ago. But lamb isn’t the only thing drawing customers in.

“We carry our lamb, of course,” says Mindy. “But we also have pork, chicken, beef, in-house baked goods, local wines, honey, and handmade gifts and goodies from other farmers and artisans in the area.”

For the Forbes family, supporting local agriculture goes hand in hand with community education. That’s why Cress Creeks also offers farm tours, hayrides, and seasonal farm-to-table dinners—experiences that have quickly become a favorite part of the job.

“I think that’s probably one of my favorite things,” Mindy says. “We did this for families. Whether it’s the corn maze, Easter egg hunt, or Christmas events—it’s for people to make memories. When they come out and say they want their kids to see sheep, and those kids get to hold baby lambs, that’s something amazing.”

“Kids and their families today don’t get to spend as much time together,” adds Lee. “So having a place where they can come and make memories—that’s important.”

By: Damon Jones