Petals & Plows – Sowing Traditions, Embracing Innovation and Cultivating Community

[Link]The Kaufman family has farming in their blood, sowing seeds of tradition and innovation into their farmstand, Petals & Plows in Ripon. They started growing produce because they enjoyed the challenge of growing and managing the variety of crops. When the farm transitioned from dairy in 2019, the family leaned into their produce and flower business.

Wade Kaufman is the fourth generation on the farm and has been farming with his father for as long as he can remember. He officially joined the farm after high school in 1999.

The name "Petals & Plows" is a nod to the Kaufman family's farming roots.

Wade's father Wayne always enjoyed growing produce. He grew up growing sweet corn and potatoes for neighbors. The family now grows melons, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet corn and strawberries. They also sell a selection of perennial plants and mums in the fall.

When the neighbors retired from hosting a corn maze on their farm, the Kaufman family decided to incorporate a maze into their own on-farm produce store. Petals & Plows hosted their first corn maze in 2014.

The Kaufman's agri-tourism business started to grow rapidly when Wade's wife, Haley, started advertising the farm activities on social media.

"It was amazing how embracing social media helped people in our community find our farm," shared Haley.

Building the farm brand has been a rewarding experience for Haley. Seeing the increase in foot traffic on the farm is a metric of Haley's marketing efforts.

Visitors to Petals & Plows appreciate the Kaufman family's hospitality and genuine caring attitude. Petals & Plows is an intersection of farming traditions and embracing modern agriculture practices.

Farming is always evolving, and the Kaufman family has also adapted to the needs of their customers by implementing credit card payment systems. Wade will still hand-write customer receipts to create a nostalgic experience.

"You could not find someone more passionate about agriculture than [Wade]," shared Haley. "He talks to every person, he remembers things about people, and he will ask them how their product from last year is doing."

Wade makes a point to shake hands with every visitor at Petals & Plows. He recalls visiting machinery dealerships with his dad and remembered how they were always met with a personal greeting when they walked through the doors. Wade wants to recreate that experience for the customers at their farm.

Community engagement is important to the Kaufman family. They are glad to welcome school field trips, youth groups, 4-H and FFA clubs, church groups and work teams to have an adventure on the farm.

The Kaufmans partner with a local bakery in town that provides caramel apples and other fall treats for guests to enjoy. Petals & Plows has an annual partnership with Tractor Supply Company for a free bucket giveaway for visitors to put their produce in. Tractor Supply's motto is "life out here" and that resonates with the Kaufman family and the customers at Petals & Plows.

The family is introducing a new food drive event this year, incentivizing guests to bring a non-perishable food item for the area food pantry in exchange for one free corn maze ticket per family.

"It's a great value for the family and they are doing good for the community," said Haley.

The community appreciates the value of the experience at Petals & Plows. Families are welcome to experience the "farm playground" for free, whether they spend $5 or $50 at the farm store. Carry-ins are welcome, and it is a safe place to adventure with the family.

Haley loves seeing photos of families enjoying the farm and making core memories.

"We are just glad they are adventuring with us," shared Haley. "It's always cool to watch adults be like kids out here."

There is so much to experience year-round at Petals & Plows - starting with the greenhouse in the spring, then strawberries in the summer, then sweet corn and then pumpkins, mums and fall fun.

The giant slide is a big hit for visitors to Petals & Plows. Kids and adults alike are drawn to the touch of nature and connection to farm life. Simple attractions like round bales for climbing or a sand pile for digging serve as souvenirs as guests return home with sand in their shoes and straw in their pockets.

The Kaufman family is honored to host a 2025 Draft Corn Maze this year. The family was recommended to the Green Bay Packers by Wisconsin Farm Bureau. Haley appreciates how Farm Bureau brings people together and presents new opportunities that benefit everyone.

"Our kids think this is the coolest thing in the world; we have the biggest die-hard Packer fan kids," shared Haley.

Haley worked with a team to design the maze. She wanted to include nods to Wisconsin agriculture, and you can navigate through a cow, tractor, chicken, cheese and a football in the maze.

Their 15-acre maze has three different paths. If you went through every row and every turn of the maze, there are six miles of trail.

"When you do a maze design that people can connect to, that means something to visitors and they will remember this for a long time," Haley said.

The corn maze is planted with GPS precision technology. The first year they did a maze, the path was roto-tilled through the corn. Planting the design with precision technology is more efficient and precise, leaving no waste.

The corn maze has adapted to fit the needs of the rest of the farming business. When Wade was milking cows, he could plant a longer-day silage corn in 20-inch rows because he would chop the corn and was not as concerned about the kernel moisture. Now, he plants a shorter day corn in 30-inch rows so he can be sure it will be dry enough to combine at the end of the corn maze season.

Wade and Haley reminisced about some of their favorite corn mazes over the years - one had a "support your local farmers" design and another celebrated Wade's parents' 50th wedding anniversary.

"I am always proud of my husband and watching the family work together," shared Haley. "It's not always easy working with family and Wade is one of the truest servant leaders you will ever meet. He is a servant leader to his community, to his family and he is always ready to help."

Make plans to adventure with the Kaufman family this fall. Petals & Plows is a testament to the power of combining tradition with innovation. Sowing the seeds of creativity and community has led to a thriving ag-tourism destination that draws visitors near and far. The Kaufmans' passion for farming, paired with their forward-thinking approach, ensures that they continue to cultivate meaningful connections and lasting memories for all who visit. In every sense, they are reaping what they've sown, and the harvest is bountiful.

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