Making Memories

Egg-splosion at Walters’ Pumpkin Patch

Bracing against the windy, forty degree weather with colorful baskets in hand, families arrived  at Walters’ Pumpkin Patch for breakfast with the Easter Bunny. 

The Easter Bunny joined hundreds of families

Walters’ annual Egg-splosion was held on Saturday, April 16, 2022 at the farm located 10 minutes north of El Dorado on Highway 77. 

Egg hunters spent the morning finding colorful eggs filled with candy and toys.

After breakfast with the Easter Bunny, individual egg hunts were held divided by age groups.  Kim came all the way from Maize to join her granddaughter, Talia for the egg-splosion. They were in the 0-3 egg hunt age group. 

Visitor, Kim from Maize, with her granddaughter Talia, have breakfast with the Easter Bunny.

“We had a blast,” said Kim with Talia echoing her sentiment. 

“The drive was worth it to see the bunny,” she said.

Following the egg hunts, families gathered along the fence line of the large open field to watch the airplane egg drop and scramble to collect the eggs filled with candy and toys. 

The Easter Bunny acted as Air Traffic Controller to guide the plane down the “runway” in order to drop the eggs.

While Walters’ Pumpkin Patch is known for their fall festival which provides visitors with the opportunity to pick their own pumpkin, navigate a corn maze, and enjoy many activities, the farm transitions with the seasons to offer unique experiences for their guests.  Now, they are continuing the fun and changing perceptions with unique offerings throughout the year.

While Walters’ Pumpkin Patch has been known primarily as a fall destination, they are changing that perception with offerings throughout the year.

“Memories are the one thing we all have in common,” said Angie Day, the Events and Marketing Coordinator for  Walters’ Pumpkin Patch. 

“We harvest memories,” she said. “We are blessed to have multiple generations of families passing on the tradition of visiting Walters’ Farm numerous times throughout each year.”

The Easter Bunny welcomed guests with hugs and photos as they entered through the Pumpkin Patch gift shop.   The store’s backdrop highlighted the expansion of destination location offerings by Walters.

“Each event hosted at Walters’ Pumpkin Patch allows memories to be shared, remembered, harvested, and created,” said Day. 

“Walters’ Farm looks forward to creating additional events while honoring the traditions that have blessed many generations,” she said. 

Easter Online

Maundy Thursday is the day celebrated by Christians to commemorate the Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper of Jesus Christ.  

On Maundy Thursday this year, I visited with Jordan Friesen, the Senior Pastor at El Dorado First Baptist Church to learn how they are adjusting Easter Week services in light of the mandated stay home order.

While Easter celebration will look different for everyone, there is an exceptionally poignant reality to Friesen‘s Easter celebration this year. 

In addition to celebrating his first Easter at El Dorado First Baptist Church, Friesen is celebrating his first Easter as a Pastor. 

Friesen’s wife, Mary, has family in Wichita but due to the stay home order, and increased spread of COVID-19 in Sedgwick County, they will not be gathering in person. 

“We are not able to see one another face-to-face,” Friesen began, “thankfully, with God’s good, sovereign timing and His good, sovereign plan, I have a background in video.” 

With a degree in communications media, Friesen and made small films prior to attending seminary.

“It’s been neat to be able to utilize those skills to help communicate with our congregation even though we’re not seeing each other face-to-face, at least we are able to see each other face-to-face at a computer screen.” Friesen said. 

Friesen, along with Associate Pastor Matt Click, has been putting those skills to good use by creating daily encouragement videos that are shared via the church’s Facebook page. 

In addition to the lighthearted, yet intentional daily videos designed to give a reprieve from the bombardment of news media, they are creating daily 5-10 minute videos during Holy Week to help the congregation prepare their hearts for the celebration of Easter.

The Holy Week vidéos will culminate in Live Stream services and will be performed on both Good Friday and Easter. Those services can be accessed by visiting the church website: https://www.edfbc.com