Sometimes an idea pops into your head, and the pieces fall into place – just like the autumn leaves. Wrangle up a couple hundred pumpkins, hook the hay wagon to the tractor, start a camp fire, set up some exciting kid’s games, and don’t forget the cider and cocoa. That’s how the First Annual Fall Festival at the Black Diamond Guest Ranch came to fruition.

Aaron and Stephanie Todd are the operators of the Black Diamond Guest Ranch in DeBorgia. When they’re not busy guiding trail rides, hosting guests and prepping cabins, they’re usually out feeding the horses and doing a little bit of daydreaming.

She explained, “This all started with just the idea of buying pumpkins and putting together a pumpkin patch up here.”

Then in true Montana fall fashion, things just kind of snowballed from there – except without the snow that is.

Todd mentioned, "Where I grew up, pumpkin patches were everywhere. It felt like that was missing up here."

“My husband [Aaron] said we need to create something up here for the community to get together, and invite them into the ranch again. So, then we thought, let’s do a fall festival, with hay rides, and games, and activities for the kids? This all just sorta came together last minute and over the last few weeks or so, it was a little spontaneous!” shared Todd.

With the help of new assistant caretakers of the guest ranch, Stephen and Amanda Gillette along with their kids, the two families worked tirelessly in short time to rustle up something for the community to come and enjoy.

On Oct. 8, the ranch slowly started to fill with families coming to explore the fall festival offerings. Guests could hop on and off a hayride that took them around the beautiful property. Marshmallows were roasting around a camp fire. Children could dig through corn kernel buckets for treasure…lots and lots of pennies.

Pumpkin bowling was a big hit, as well as the mini haybale rodeo arena. Little ones could climb up on a saddle, and lasso some little metal steers. Kids can paint rocks to bring home, while the adults enjoyed a round of corn hole. Nearby was the sack race course, and fall photo ops with colorful tractor displays for families to pose in front of for pictures.

The pumpkin patch was open for business, and close by was concessions supplying warm drinks, popcorn, bread, and goodies. Inside the same small cabin was the Western store, where you could purchase a cowboy hat for your buckaroo, or a new Western shirt.

After the Todd’s went and picked up their 300 pumpkins for the ranches pumpkin patch, they have been extra careful about keeping their big orange cache safe. She laughed, “At night we have been surrounding the pumpkins with electric fence, to keep the bears away. It’s worked so far!”

The Pumpkin Patch is open six days a week, until the pumpkins are gone. But Fridays and Saturdays, from 11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in October are Fall Festival days, including the pumpkin patch, tractor hay rides, campfire and marshmallow roasting, fall games and children’s activities, as well as food and drinks for purchase. For more information check the Black Diamond Guest Ranch Facebook page for details and hours.