A Patchwork of Memories: Honoring the Denton Family— Clay County’s First Pumpkin Patch

There are some memories that never fade — the kind that live deep in your heart and resurface every fall when the air turns crisp, the leaves start to change, and the scent of hay and pumpkins fills the farm. For me, that memory is the Denton Family Pumpkin Patch — the very first pumpkin patch in Clay County, Tennessee — and the joy, heart, and hope that Wanda, Dave, and KP (Kristi) poured into it.

When I was younger, I spent a summer staying with Dave (Rick and Wanda’s son) and his wife at the time, Kristi (“KP”), who also happens to be my cousin. Those two hung the moon in my eyes and taught me so many things that have stuck with me over the years. That summer still feels like sunshine — the kind that lingers in your memory long after it’s gone. Their home was always filled with laughter, kindness, and the hum of farm life.

Wanda, along with Dave, KP, and even Kristi’s parents, Jean and Johnny Pennington, poured their hearts into what became Clay County’s very first pumpkin patch. I can still picture them all out there, tending rows of vines, sharing smiles, and working side by side as the pumpkins began to ripen. It was a true family effort — full of love, teamwork, and purpose. Even as a child, I could feel the warmth and meaning in everything they did.

I remember that pumpkin patch vividly — riding on the tailgate of one of the Kawasaki Mules, holding a hoe as we drove down the rows weeding the pumpkin plants. I was amazed at how big and beautiful those green vines were, and I felt so proud that they trusted me to help. Looking back, I realize there weren’t many weeds to pull — but to me, it felt like important work.

I can still remember the fall when the pumpkin patch opened — what a beautiful and exciting time that was. Kids came from all around, from Clay County and neighboring Monroe County, to take a hayride, pick their own pumpkin, and listen to stories read aloud while sitting on Honest Abe Log Homes log cut-offs.

I share the story of the Honest Abe log cut-offs because that’s another special memory for me. Rick, Wanda’s husband, was the president of Honest Abe back then — a company my dad had started, and one that Rick and so many others helped grow into what it is today. The heart Rick put into the company still sets it apart, and Mrs. Wanda’s unwavering support through those years means so much. Those log cut-offs, stacked neatly for little legs, were simple seats — but to me, they felt like thrones for farm kids learning the wonder of the harvest season.

I remember sitting there, surrounded by laughter, straw, and the smell of fall, watching Wanda, Dave, and KP, along with their family, make every child feel welcome. It wasn’t just a pumpkin patch — it was a community event, a place of learning, and most of all, a place filled with love.

The Denton Legacy

I still keep up with the Denton family, visiting from time to time, enjoying Wannie’s famous blueberry muffins or cake, and reminiscing on the memories they so graciously share about how Honest Abe grew and developed through the years.

Recently, I shared with Rick what Nick and I have been doing on our farm — developing our own little Farm Park and pumpkin patch — and how much it reminds me of their family. It brought back a flood of memories for all of us.

As Rick told me, those years — the late 1990s through the early 2000s — were both some of the sweetest and most challenging times of their lives. After Dave’s accident in 1995, Wanda was inspired to create something he could help with. I’ll never forget that time. Dave’s motorcycle accident left him with a severe brain injury, and as a little girl, I can still remember my parents loading us up in the car to rush to Chattanooga to be with Rick, Wanda, and KP during such a scary time. By God’s grace, Dave survived and recovered, and in that season of healing, “Wannie’s Pumpkin Patch” was born.

With the help of family and friends, they grew and tended those fields year after year. For about five years, the patch thrived. Hundreds of children came to visit from schools across the region. Wanda planted between 3,000 and 4,000 pumpkins each season. There were hayrides, stories, photo ops, and fields glowing orange under the Tennessee sun.

Rick shared how those years were full of both joy and challenge. Wanda’s first pumpkin crop actually came in too early one season — the pumpkins ripened before the end of October and began to rot. But that didn’t stop her. The family came together to make it work. Rick’s dad even helped, driving his tractor slowly down Highway 52 from Pine Hill to plow, often with a line of cars behind him.

In our rural community, getting stuck behind a tractor was just part of life — and honestly, it reminds me that we could all use a little more of that today. Maybe we all need to get behind more tractors, slow down, enjoy the scenery, and find a little peace in our busy lives — to pause and take it all in, like we did back then.

Everyone — Wanda, Dave, KP, and even Jean and Johnny Pennington (along with Rick & Wanda’s daughters, Lori and Christy) — pitched in. It was truly a family affair built on hard work, faith, and love.

Even though the pumpkin patch eventually closed after about five years, its impact never went away. The Dentons created something that touched countless hearts — including mine as a young girl.

Decorating with Heart

One of my favorite things I’ve recently learned — thanks to my sister-in-law, Lesley — is how Wanda’s creativity and generosity extended far beyond the pumpkin patch.

During the Honest Abe Log Homes “Tour of Homes” events years ago — when local log homeowners graciously opened their homes to visitors — Wanda and KP would decorate yards, mailboxes, and entryways with pumpkins, scarecrows, and all the beautiful fall fixin’s to welcome people traveling through the area.

They didn’t stop there. Wanda and KP often helped decorate for others in the community too, spreading that same autumn charm to local Clay County businesses and homes. It was just who they were — thoughtful, giving, and endlessly creative. Together, they made sure everyone felt the warmth of fall and the beauty of home long before they ever stepped inside.

That simple act — decorating a mailbox, a porch, or a front yard — wasn’t just about pumpkins and mums. It was about making people feel welcome, seen, and loved. And that’s exactly what they did best.

Full Circle

Fast forward to 2024.

Now, my own family runs a small agritourism destination — what we lovingly call our Farm Park — on our family farm. And wouldn’t you know it, one of the very first things we started was a pumpkin patch.

We added hayrides, storytime, and the same kind of hands-on experiences that meant so much to me all those years ago. Every time I see a child step off a hayride and run toward a pumpkin they’ve found all on their own, I can’t help but think of the wonderful Denton family — their kindness, creativity, and how they showed so many of us the beauty of connecting people to the land.

Their encouragement, their example, and their heart for community planted a seed in me that has grown over time — quite literally — into something we now share with others. Our goal isn’t just to grow pumpkins; it’s to grow memories — the same kind of memories that Wanda and her family created for me and for so many children who once sat on those log cut-offs, eyes wide with wonder.

And with that thought, I think it’s time I find some log cut-offs for the kids visiting our patch to sit on too.

Gratitude

So today, I just want to say thank you —To the entire Denton family, for showing what it means to blend hard work with heart.For creating something that brought so much joy to so many.For proving that a pumpkin patch can be more than a field of vines — it can be a place of healing, laughter, learning, and legacy.

Your patch might be gone, but the spirit of it continues — in every pumpkin we plant, every hayride we give, and every child who discovers the simple magic of the farm.

You didn’t just grow pumpkins — you grew memories.And I’m so grateful to be one of them.