Hammerich wins awards with productive patch

By ANNA WILLARD

Capital Press

BONANZA, Ore. -- After years of taking steers to the Klamath County Fair in 4-H, Charlie Hammerich decided on a different approach for his FFA project -- he started a pumpkin patch.

Hammerich grew up on a cattle ranch outside Bonanza and knew he wanted his FFA project to be one of a kind. His father, Frank, told him there was a corner of a field that he could use for whatever he wanted. In his younger years, Hammerich raised a few pumpkins and liked the work. He decided to try making a business out of it.

At this year's state FFA convention in Corvallis, Ore., Hammerich's pumpkin patch was recognized as the best specialty crop entrepreneurship project in the state and will go on to compete at the national level this fall. He also received the state star in agribusiness award for his project.

The star in agribusiness award is given to FFA members who produce and sell their own products, said Tom Hall, Bonanza FFA adviser.

Hammerich was the Bonanza FFA chapter president this year. His pumpkin patch has grown from a third of an acre to 1 1/4 acres over the past three years and can produce approximately 65 produce bins of pumpkins with a total weight of approximately 50,000 pounds, Hammerich said.

"His project has really bloomed," Hall said.

Part of the growth in Hammerich's operation was the growth of his pumpkin expertise. After the first year, Hammerich decided to try black plastic mulch to increase production and keep weeds away from the plants.

He found that a mulch layer would cost between $2,000 and $3,000. Instead, Hammerich, with the help of his father, made his own mulch layer using equipment on hand.

Aside from raising, harvesting and delivering the pumpkins, Hammerich is also in charge of marketing.

His first big customer was the Old Fort Amaizen Corn Maze in nearby Klamath Falls, Ore. The owners of the corn maze, Tom and Jenise Bocchi, were in their first year of operation as well. The deer damaged their pumpkin crop, so they bought pumpkins from Hammerich.

"He had the product we were looking for and he just grows beautiful pumpkins," Jenise Bocchi said.

The corn maze will not be in operation this year due to the shortage of irrigation water, but Hammerich has other customers to take the pumpkins. Big R, a farm and ranch supply store, is planning on continuing to sell his pumpkins in Klamath Falls and possibly sending more to its White City, Ore., location.

Diamond Home Improvement in Klamath Falls and Martin's Food in Merrill, Ore., also buy his pumpkins and some are sold door-to-door in Bonanza.

While Hammerich has been successful with this project, he also faces challenges that come with living in Klamath County. His first year a hailstorm severely damaged his crop, but over time the plants recovered.

Other issues are unpredictable spring weather, a short growing season, and the occasional frost in the middle of August.

This year a new problem came up.

"Right after I planted, the mice came through and ate all the seeds, so I had to replant," Hammerich said.

Replanting put him a couple of weeks behind, but he will still have pumpkins in time for Halloween.

Hammerich graduated as valedictorian from Bonanza High School in June and is preparing to attend Washington State University this fall. Even though he is leaving, his father will most likely keep the pumpkin project going.

"My dad really likes it, it probably won't be as big, but he'll still do it," Hammerich said.