Mitchell Farms in Collins Has Peanuts, Pumpkins and More

When Mitchell Farms planted its first pumpkin patch in 2006, the crop was ready in August, far too early for the fall favorite.

“That first year we actually had to buy pumpkins to sell on the farm,” says Jo Lynn Mitchell, who operates the farm with her husband, Don. “But we weren’t discouraged.”

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In fact, what they learned that first year and each successive season after has helped them build their working farm into a popular, family-friendly agritourism destination on 1,500 acres deep in the piney woods of Collins.

What began in 1960 as a row crop operation, and continues as one today, Mitchell Farms now also features a pumpkin patch with more than 40 varieties of pumpkins, a 5-acre corn maze, a trailer ride tour, farm animals, a hay mountain, rides, slides, and a barn for birthday parties, events, and entertainment.

“As we’ve grown and expanded, we’ve kept one thing in mind,” Mitchell says. “We want to be a place where families can make memories with their children, all while enjoying being outdoors, learning what happens on a working farm, and even picking or tasting something fresh.”

Peanuts Party

Don’s parents, Dennis and Nelda, began that tradition when they started the farm more than 60 years ago.
“My father-in-law grew fresh vegetables on 150 acres, so we were used to people coming to the farm and picking vegetables,” Mitchell says. “It was natural to build on that by offering more activities and opportunities to visit and enjoy the farm.”

The Mississippi Peanut Festival gives families another great reason to visit Mitchell Farms. Held the first full weekend in October, the event provides visitors with a chance to enjoy the pumpkin patch and other activities, as well as tour the farm’s peanut operation, which is run by Don, enjoy the nearly 150 arts and crafts vendors who come from across the South, and tour the farm’s log home filled with Nelda’s collection of antiques and artwork.

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Producing peanuts for more than 30 years, Mitchell Farms offers fresh green peanuts, which are perishable and best for boiling, as well as dry peanuts, which are better for storing. Fresh peanuts are available on the farm from early August through the peanut festival and into November based on supply.

An Outdoor Classroom

In addition to welcoming all visitors to the farm during weekends in the fall, Mitchell Farms hosts local school groups of preschoolers through second graders on weekdays in October.

“One of my favorite things is to have the school kids on the farm. Many of them have no idea of how their food is grown, where it comes from, or that there are family farms not far from where they live,” Mitchell says. “Depending on when they come, they will see plants in bloom or ready to pick. We talk about the weather, how plants grow and how they get from the farm to the table. So, when they go back home or back to their classroom, they have a better understanding of agriculture and why it is so important.”

Fun and education come together to teach children and leave them with lifelong memories.

“And because we make it fun, they remember it,” Mitchell says. “We’ve been giving tours for so long now, that last year I had parents of schoolchildren come up and tell me that they had come here as kids. That’s pretty rewarding.”

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Visitors can also view cabins and other wood buildings made from timber found on the property and cut and sized at the family’s sawmill, also on the property. It’s a unique opportunity to appreciate a process and a level of craftsmanship not often seen.

“I believe people enjoy coming to visit our farm for many reasons, and they leave with an appreciation for what family farmers do,” Mitchell says. “Every part of our farm tells a story, and we’re happy to share it.”