By Maggie Edwards 

The path to producing plentiful patches of pumpkins starts mid-summer for Marshall County farmer Mitchell Morgan. 

“Times are tough,” Mitchell said. “If I can take something I grew and make people happy, then that’s what I will strive to do.”

That joy comes when the air turns crisp and leaves transition to deep reds and bright orange. Pumpkin season begins then for everyone else, he said. 

“Families carve my pumpkins for Halloween, but I sell pumpkins past October for families to make pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving,” Mitchell said. “It’s more than Halloween. It’s families gathering around the table.” 

Mitchell and his wife, Kaitlin, began Morgan Farms in 2012. They also have poultry houses and raise sheep and swine in Horton with their son, Abel. Off the farm, Mitchell is a middle school agriscience teacher; Kaitlin is a nurse.

“We started growing pumpkins on a small scale to sell at local markets but later saw a demand for the product,” Mitchell said. “We slowly began building. Now, we plant about 100 acres and sell wholesale.” 

Stepping into the world of growing specialty crops was a blessing, he said. 

“People in agriculture know that, a lot of the time, money can be tight,” Mitchell said. “It’s a blessing to have extra income to help offset the poultry houses. When the opportunity came, we jumped. It was a one of those things where you do everything you can to make it happen.”

Mitchell said expanding the farm has been filled with lessons in production and patience.

“I have seen the ups and downs of the poultry industry,” he said. “Sometimes you have to go out and make things work — whether that’s diversifying or trying new things. I just love the land. I love putting the sweat and tears into it.”

Since starting Morgan Farms’ wholesale pumpkin business, they have expanded into 20 varieties and shapes of pumpkins sold annually. That includes fan favorite varieties such as Jack O’ Lantern, Fairytale and Field Trip.

“At the time, there wasn’t anyone local doing this on a wholesale level,” Mitchell said. “We hoped Sweet Grown Alabama pumpkins would have a market — and they did.” 

Mitchell credits involvement in the Alabama Farmers Federation and Sweet Grown Alabama membership for his success. 

“I feel like, without the Federation, I couldn’t do what I do,” he said. “It’s an asset to all agriculture in Alabama. I also think Sweet Grown Alabama is one of the best things to ever happen to farm-to-table farmers. Being a member of the state’s agricultural branding program is more than beneficial for us.” 

Aside from growing pumpkins, Morgan Farms operates a fall-centered porch-decorating business crafted by Kaitlin. 

“What started as a childhood love for decorating has grown into a fall tradition and side hustle,” Kaitlin said. “The Lord turned that passion into something bigger. In 2021, while helping Mitchell at a fall festival, I stacked pumpkins for fun, and people began buying them. Soon, I was asked to design displays for homes and businesses.” 

Each fall, Kaitlin expresses her creativity while balancing life as a mother, wife and registered nurse. Hay bales, corn stalks and a plethora of pumpkins keep the town feeling festive. 

“I give all glory to the Lord for blessing our harvest, giving me this gift and surrounding me with faithful clients and family who help me keep a little girl’s dream alive,” she said.

Mitchell echoed his wife, stating their work and passion for agriculture is a gift from God.

“When you farm, it’s something bred into you,” Mitchell said. “It’s something I was born loving. I feel like it’s a calling. I’ve done things I’ve never thought I would do, and it’s done well. That goes back to those hard times I’ve had. As a farmer, you do what it takes to get the job done. You pray your crop makes it, and when it does, it’s rewarding to see the efforts you put in with your hands. It’s honest work. We rely on God.”