You would think that a 400-plus-acre farm would allow for an easy installation and tons of room to maneuver, but handling and placing the large pieces at Vala’s is a wonderful challenge I look forward to each year. They have a talented and eager crew and the best equipment to do the work. We know with a little head scratching and careful teamwork, there isn’t a challenge we won’t be able to solve.

The tricky challenge at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch comes in accessing the locations. The farm has been built up over forty years and is designed for pedestrians. All of the things that make the farm so beautiful also provide us with a chance to be creative as we move and install the features. The colourful shade trees which they planted decades ago have grown tall, and purposely overhang the winding and undulating pedestrian paths which we must navigate with the heavy and bulky features weighing in at thousands of pounds, suspended from the end of a powerful zoom boom. Many of the features we build are replacing outdated features in the middle of existing attractions, which are extra challenging to access.

We first walk each route with a tape measure in hand, trimming the odd wayward branch or instructing the crew to temporarily move trash cans or portions of fencing. Planning is easier and faster than repairing. Then the crew rigs the pieces on the pre-engineered lifting points we built into the features. The pieces are moved at a walking pace with lookouts on all sides in critical areas. Today’s surprise was a heavy downpour last night, which made the ground soft and slippery in places. At one point, the zoom boom lost traction, but a large four-wheel drive field tractor piloted by one of Vala’s skilled crew saved the day with a little tug. The old woman’s shoe slide feature was gingerly wiggled into position in Storybook Land with inches to spare. Tomorrow, the fun challenge begins anew as more of this year’s features are moved into place. Stay tuned….