ABOUT US
MEET:
THE FARMERS
RENAE (WELLING) BEDOLLA (2nd generation) head gardener and manager of the pumpkin patch.
KIRK WELLING (1st generation) owner and farmer at Dolan Creek Farm, head builder and “fix-it-man”.
MATT GALLANT (2nd generation) farmer who grows hay at Dolan Creek Farm as well as pumpkins for us.
ETHAN GALLANT (3rd generation) farmer who grows pumpkins at Dolan Creek Farm.
Yes, we grow our own pumpkins! Meet the farmers of Dolan Creek Farm! They work all year from picking out seeds to working the ground and tirelessly watering in the heat of summer to grow the gorgeous gourds you bring home!
MEET:
THE DESIGN TEAM
LARA IRISH, head painter of all cute buildings around the farm
DANA BREKKE, head decorator of all the pumpkin magic around the farm
KRISTI GILLUM, head of all signage
These are the ladies who make the farm so cute! From pumpkin decor to sweatshirts and lighting, they work hard to make it magical all year ‘round but especially for Pumpkin Patch.
MEET:
THE WELLING FAMILY
THE WELLING FAMILY
OUR HISTORY:
Three Generations at Dolan Creek Farm
It all began when Antone Kligel was born in Germany in 1836. At some point in his young life he came to America and started farming this land in 1890. He died in 1924 and at one point his son took over the operation of the farm, working side by side with his wife.
Around 1945, Gene Welling was running Gresham Rexall Drugs and dreamed of living in the country, enjoying his love of birds and chickens. He helped the widow of Antone by paying the back taxes on this farm. She asked him if he wanted to purchase the farm from her family. Legend has it she asked her Priest, Realtor and Doctor to set the price. We don’t know who’s opinion was taken, but Gene bought the farm from her family in 1945. His son Kirk was born shortly after the purchase.
Several families leased and managed the farm under Gene’s ownership. Gene’s wife did not want to live on a farm and preferred her life in town. At that time the farm was growing strawberries, raspberries, cabbage, broccoli and lettuces.
Gene’s son Kirk married Chris in 1969. Shortly after the wedding Chris discovered that Kirk's family owned an old farm on Orient Drive. Chris instantly fell in love with the old white farm house with no foundation or insulation and one rotten bathroom. They purchased a portion of the farm from Gene in 1969 and moved into the old cold house in January of 1970. Renae was born later that year and Dana was born in 1973.
Kirk and Chris leased a large portion of the farm to a berry farmer, raised a family, loved the land, improved the buildings, canned, tomatoes, beans, jam and anything else they could grow from the land. Gene’s wife passed away around 1985. He wanted to fulfill a lifelong dream and live on the farm. The log house was built in 1988. He moved in and filled the front yard with ducks, chickens and geese and the entire back yard with a vegetable garden. He was living his dream. He had almost 2 magical years of farm life and passed in October of 1990. Kirk and Chris took over the ownership and management of Dolan Creek Farm and all that you see today.
Kirk and Chris are still living in the old white house and continue to improve it. In 2017, their daughter Renae had the idea of opening the doors of this charming farm to the public by starting a pumpkin patch. This event is mostly staffed by a crew of dedicated friends who volunteer because they love this farm, the friends who work it and the community it grows.
We hope you enjoy your visit experiencing farm life!
Kirk, Chris, Renae and Dana