Adaption & Perseverance the Heart of Middleton Farms

 Every success story is a tale of constant adaption, revision and change. Such is the case with Middleton Six Sons Farms in Pasco, Washington. Between 1946 and 1964, the Bureau of Reclamation opened over 2,800 farms on federal reclamation projects in Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California and Arizona to be lotteried off to veterans following the World Wars. Because of this, Bob Middleton and his wife Shirley moved their family from Nebraska to Washington in 1954. “He got his block of sand, and built a one bed room house,” said grandson Mark Middleton—one of the 5 current owner/operators of Middleton Farms, as well as a full-time pastor “The house had no running water. They used an outhouse. They were pioneers,” Mark smiles proudly. He started farming hay with his sons, and be fore too long they added asparagus to their crop rotations. Bob was the second asparagus grower in the state of Washington. “Farming was tough, but they persevered,” Matt Middleton (another of the 5 current owner/operators) said. “They had seven kids, and Bill—our dad, and the oldest of the 7— started farming in 1974 using old BNSF railroad land. He started piecing together ground and was soon farming 1000 acres of hay, asparagus, wheat and corn. This year we are celebrating his 50 years The Middleton Farm Fall Festival. The Middleton Family, Pasco, WA of farming!” By 2010, Bill Middleton, his wife Cinda, and their six sons were farming close to 5,000 acres from Touchet to West Richland. Sam Walton once said “You can’t just keep doing what works one time, everything around you is changing. To succeed, stay out in front of change.” Keith Middleton, the oldest of the 6 brothers decided to put that idea into practice and he and his wife started their first fall festival in 2013 with a 2-acre pumpkin patch and a straw maze. “It was supposed to help pay for the hay shed,” Matt laughed. But instead, it became a staple building for the Middleton Farm Festivals. “We were so excited the first time there were 50 people walking through the maze,” Matt laughed. Now, however, word of their corn maze has spread, and thousands of people experience the fun the Middleton family provides at their festivals. They have modeled their business after Disneyland and Silverwood, in that a person pays at the gate, with most all of the activities inside included in that price. Their activities include steer roping, a straw maze, a hay ride, a grain train, ropes courses, a corn pit, giant slides, farmin' foos ball, pumpkin bowling, duck races, ziplines, giant bubbles, the corn maze, and even fireworks to close out the day. “It didn't immediately become a success,” Matt said. “It was a lot of perseverance.” Keith and his wife moved to Michigan where they bought an existing festival called Kackleberry Farm, and Matt and Scott Middleton (twins) took over directing the festivals in Pasco. “We're still farmers,” Matt said, but now instead of 5,000 acres, we have cut back to around 3,000 and do more festivals.”  They currently do 4 festivals: fall, strawberry, asparagus and sunflower. This spring, they will be adding a new one, eastern Washington's first Tulip Festival. The brothers have been talking with tulip growers from Skagit Valley to Reno, to best understand the growing season and potential challenges. They still have about 200 acres of asparagus, and also grow asparagus starts for other commercial operations. That is in addition to their hay, corn and pumpkins. “My parents have done such a great job squeezing every tiny bit of profit from every square inch of the farm,” Matt says. Adaptability is the simple secret of survival. And the Middleton brothers are certainly adaptable. When they first started the maze, they brought in food trucks. Then one day they thought “we can do this...” Now Scott's wife, Angie manages 7 food venues—most named after their family members: Wild Bill's Grill, Twins Tacos, Angie's Pizza Factory, Mark's NW BBQ, Cinda's Sweet Shoppe, and Hayley's Kettle Corn Bin. The main attraction, the corn maze covers about 8 acres, and CUSTOM SPRAYING & APPLICATION FROM $8/ACRE CALL MATTHEW FOGARTY 509-520-5741 Located in Walla Walla, WA Licensed and Insured in OR & WA This is our sow, Liberty. She is a hamp/york. We are downsizing. She has had 2 litters. We need to sell her ASAP. Asking $400 obo. Can't deliver. Must be able to pick her up. Location: Walla Walla WA. Text Chandy. 720.621.8490 Middleton Farm Fall Festival this year is Pixar's Cars themed. The maze is cross-planted with GPS points throughout. Then as it grows, the design is painted on, then mowed. “It's the greatest job in the world,” Matt says, “But it wouldn't work without all of us.” He gestures to his wife, Hayley, who does sales and marketing, and their newborn that has accompanied her parents to work. Nolan Ryan said “Enjoying success requires the ability to adapt. Only by being open to change will you have a true opportunity to get the most from your talent.” Who knows what Middleton Farms will come up with next, Matt smiles mischievously at his wife, Hayley as he shrugs and says “I keep looking at roller coasters...” She gave him playful but firm look of no. But whatever the changes may be, the Middleton brothers have no shortage of adaptability.

For more information visit https://middletonfarms.com