Carter’s Red Wagon continues to herald autumn’s arrival

By Jean Ruzickajruzicka@parkrapidsenterprise.com An engineer with a whimsical twist reigns in the Carter corn and pumpkin fields, where Mysteries of the World unfold. Saturday’s sunny skies sent kids, parents and grandparents out in number to experience Tony Carter’s wily wizardry, continuing a family tradition at the Red Wagon Farm. “We’re excited, but unprepared,” son Luke said Friday morning as his dad hauled pieces and parts out for assembling. But by Saturday, the wagon was hitched to the tractor, the cow was ready to be milked, the ducks prepared for racing, giant pumpkins ready for launching and the amazing labyrinth was about to befuddle. Hubbard County’s autumn has been officially ushered in by the Carter family for 20-plus years, Russell and Maxine at the helm, initially. The Carters arrived in the area from Michigan in the mid-‘50s, generations of the family in farming. “Dad made no beans about farming being the most honorable vocation,” son Mark said. “Everything revolved around the farm.” But farming was not simply growing vegetables to be hauled off to an unknown destination. Russell innovatively marketed the produce. The English Carter name means someone who transports goods by cart or wagon, Mark explained. The farm’s signature red wagon evolved from this. “He liked the old fashioned, but innovative,” Mark said. “He liked to do things differently. But he wanted it to be real.” This is an entrepreneurial family “with generations who were always thinking of things to do,” Mark said, fondly recalling his grandfather Clinton, who had a visionary penchant for entertainment. Hauling produce from Florida to Chicago during the Depression, Clinton had mused, “This would be a good place for an amusement park…”
“I wish dad could see this,” Mark recalled of Russell saying when the market was constructed in Park Rapids in 1995. Twenty-plus years ago, the Carter parties emerged, initially scheduled randomly. Carts pulled by oxen at the farm carried pumpkin pickers out to the field. “Y’all come see us at the farm,” became a Carter slogan. The first official pumpkin party, replete with scarecrows and music, was in the late ’90s, Mark recalled, several members of the family participating. The parties were held at the market for about 15 years, moving back to the farm four years ago, initially stirring some “will they come?” trepidation. “The market just wasn’t big enough,” Mark said. “It was taking a chance,” he said of relocating to the farm southwest of Park Rapids. But through the years, members of the Carter family have made a point of stopping at farm markets and mazes, he said, gathering info and sending home photos from across the globe. The planted seeds began to sprout. Now, “it’s all Tony doing this,” Mark said. “It gives the rest of us the chance to eat,” he joked of the family’s role in the parties. “It starts immediately,” Linda Carter said of her husband’s “brainstorming” after the last pumpkin party in the fall. “He’s an introvert,” Linda said of her husband, who shies away from interviews and TV cameras. But his wry, dry humor becomes evident when the pumpkin party begins. Tony comes up with a theme for next year’s 6.5-acre corn maze and spends the winter researching, this year writing the text. “Mazers” journey to Stonehenge, Alcatraz and the lost colony of Roanoke; they meet Bigfoot and Dinosaurs; ponder the missing sock syndrome and more. Perfect scores on quizzes (those having visited every station) receive a gift certificate. A half-acre maze of mirth, a hay bale labyrinth and straw bale tunnels for mini mazers are also in store. Music and magic are part of the line-up. Imaginick (Nick Bretz) arrives to make “the fastest balloon animal in the world,” among other shenanigans. And Tony’s scarecrow band (powered by windshield wiper motors) sets toes tapping. The pumpkin propeller, a Rube Goldberg-inspired apparatus, arrived on scene a dozen years ago, and the pumpkin washing contraption debuted this year, Tony the mastermind. The giant corn pit inspired a child to ponder, “How much popcorn would this make?” A nine-hole mini golf course - replete with a windmill – and a rat trap debuted last year. “We see all ages, all walks of life,” Linda said of teens sporting Mohawks to grandmas. “Grandparents come to check it out (prior to bringing the kids) and spend the day.” A family friendly menu is served during the event. Meanwhile, in town, the store is open with sweet corn and tomatoes, a variety of apples from the Pine Tree Orchard in White Bear Lake, as well as winter squash. And, of course, there are pumpkins aplenty. “My dad wants the farm to continue to succeed,” Mark said of Russell’s legacy. “He approves” of his youngest son’s hijinks and harvests. “Definitely. “He told us, in our careers, be somewhere in the food chain. People always need to eat.” And laugh.By Jean Ruzickajruzicka@parkrapidsenterprise.comAn engineer with a whimsical twist reigns in the Carter corn and pumpkin fields, where Mysteries of the World unfold.Saturday’s sunny skies sent kids, parents and grandparents out in number to experience Tony Carter’s wily wizardry, continuing a family tradition at the Red Wagon Farm.“We’re excited, but unprepared,” son Luke said Friday morning as his dad hauled pieces and parts out for assembling.But by Saturday, the wagon was hitched to the tractor, the cow was ready to be milked, the ducks prepared for racing, giant pumpkins ready for launching and the amazing labyrinth was about to befuddle.Hubbard County’s autumn has been officially ushered in by the Carter family for 20-plus years, Russell and Maxine at the helm, initially.The Carters arrived in the area from Michigan in the mid-‘50s, generations of the family in farming.“Dad made no beans about farming being the most honorable vocation,” son Mark said. “Everything revolved around the farm.”But farming was not simply growing vegetables to be hauled off to an unknown destination. Russell innovatively marketed the produce.The English Carter name means someone who transports goods by cart or wagon, Mark explained. The farm’s signature red wagon evolved from this.“He liked the old fashioned, but innovative,” Mark said. “He liked to do things differently. But he wanted it to be real.”This is an entrepreneurial family “with generations who were always thinking of things to do,” Mark said, fondly recalling his grandfather Clinton, who had a visionary penchant for entertainment.Hauling produce from Florida to Chicago during the Depression, Clinton had mused, “This would be a good place for an amusement park…”
“I wish dad could see this,” Mark recalled of Russell saying when the market was constructed in Park Rapids in 1995.Twenty-plus years ago, the Carter parties emerged, initially scheduled randomly. Carts pulled by oxen at the farm carried pumpkin pickers out to the field.“Y’all come see us at the farm,” became a Carter slogan.The first official pumpkin party, replete with scarecrows and music, was in the late ’90s, Mark recalled, several members of the family participating.The parties were held at the market for about 15 years, moving back to the farm four years ago, initially stirring some “will they come?” trepidation.“The market just wasn’t big enough,” Mark said. “It was taking a chance,” he said of relocating to the farm southwest of Park Rapids.But through the years, members of the Carter family have made a point of stopping at farm markets and mazes, he said, gathering info and sending home photos from across the globe. The planted seeds began to sprout.Now, “it’s all Tony doing this,” Mark said. “It gives the rest of us the chance to eat,” he joked of the family’s role in the parties.“It starts immediately,” Linda Carter said of her husband’s “brainstorming” after the last pumpkin party in the fall.“He’s an introvert,” Linda said of her husband, who shies away from interviews and TV cameras. But his wry, dry humor becomes evident when the pumpkin party begins.Tony comes up with a theme for next year’s 6.5-acre corn maze and spends the winter researching, this year writing the text.“Mazers” journey to Stonehenge, Alcatraz and the lost colony of Roanoke; they meet Bigfoot and Dinosaurs; ponder the missing sock syndrome and more.Perfect scores on quizzes (those having visited every station) receive a gift certificate.A half-acre maze of mirth, a hay bale labyrinth and straw bale tunnels for mini mazers are also in store.Music and magic are part of the line-up. Imaginick (Nick Bretz) arrives to make “the fastest balloon animal in the world,” among other shenanigans. And Tony’s scarecrow band (powered by windshield wiper motors) sets toes tapping.The pumpkin propeller, a Rube Goldberg-inspired apparatus, arrived on scene a dozen years ago, and the pumpkin washing contraption debuted this year, Tony the mastermind.The giant corn pit inspired a child to ponder, “How much popcorn would this make?”A nine-hole mini golf course - replete with a windmill – and a rat trap debuted last year.“We see all ages, all walks of life,” Linda said of teens sporting Mohawks to grandmas.“Grandparents come to check it out (prior to bringing the kids) and spend the day.”A family friendly menu is served during the event.Meanwhile, in town, the store is open with sweet corn and tomatoes, a variety of apples from the Pine Tree Orchard in White Bear Lake, as well as winter squash. And, of course, there are pumpkins aplenty.“My dad wants the farm to continue to succeed,” Mark said of Russell’s legacy. “He approves” of his youngest son’s hijinks and harvests. “Definitely.“He told us, in our careers, be somewhere in the food chain. People always need to eat.”And laugh.