Case Study: Vala’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard grows into one of the country’s largest fall festivals with Square

How a Small Family Farm Grew into One of the Country’s Largest Fall Festivals

Vala’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard, a family-run fall destination in Gretna, Nebraska, grew from a small pumpkin patch into a 450-acre festival with hundreds of thousands of visitors, but its biggest challenge was scaling a highly seasonal operation that runs only two months a year. To keep up with rapid growth, thousands of seasonal employees, and multiple food, retail, and entertainment offerings, the business needed technology from Square that could support fast training and connect many parts of the operation.

Square implemented tools including Square POS, Square for Restaurants, Square Invoices, and Square Gift Cards to unify Vala’s many revenue streams and provide real-time visibility across departments. With 94 tablets, 48 Square Stands, eight Square Registers, and six Square Kiosks, Vala’s was able to speed up cashier training, handle crowds of up to 20,000 on busy days, and use performance data to reinvest in the most successful offerings, helping the business continue to expand and explore new opportunities.

Vala’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard

Kelsey Vala Donovan

Co-owner