Farm Life
Food, Fun and Festivals Await at Yellow River Farms
Writer / Matt Keating
Photography Provided
For many people, the key to running a successful business lies in strong communication among employees.
The Scherf family, who owns and operates Yellow River Farms in Knox, knows how to communicate well and also offers great products to customers. They have worked hard to establish long-running friendships with their faithful customers.
Emily Scherf says the family has always operated their business that way.
I am the daughter-in-law of Co-owners Bill and Gina Scherf, she says. Bill and Gina, and Rose Ann Eichelberg and the late Wayne Eichelberg, opened Yellow River Farms on Highway 8. They started along the banks of the Yellow River, four miles east of Knox, Indiana, in 1990.
Scherf says Yellow River Farms has outstanding merchandise that has earned a strong reputation among the local community and beyond Knox.
They have been providing the best in farm-fresh vegetables, flowers and family fun for the folks in Starke County and the surrounding areas ever since they started, she says.
Scherfs husband Evan and their daughter Grace have a lot of fun working at Yellow River Farms. Its an experience they cherish every day.
Additional employees at Yellow River Farms include Bill and Ginas other son, Ryan Scherf.
Right now the family is busier than ever on the farm, Scherf says. We are growing the best vegetables and flowers for our customers.
Scherf appreciates how the business has made the family closer.
The best part about this business is how family-oriented it is, she says. Our family is very involved in making the farm run smoothly. All of us. We are also always working together to stay active in the community. We love all of our local customers and getting to interact with them daily.
The Yellow River Farms annual fall festival has allowed the Scherf family to get to know their loyal customers even better. Scherf says many people look forward to it.
During our fall festival, we have so many families come out and bring their children to join in the fun activities, Scherf says. We are also hosting our local schools for field trips during the weeks. Getting involved in our community is a big part of what we do. We begin our fall activities on the last weekend of September, and they last through the last weekend of October. We have a lot of fun activities for adults and kids of all ages. Our market has a variety of items including pumpkins, squash, and goods all grown on the farm.
Customers have also responded favorably to the other high-quality Yellow River Farms merchandise.
We also have apples, ciders, jams and jellies, Scherf says. We want people to also come and check out all of our fall decorations and apparel, located now in our gift shop.
Scherf says customers enjoy shopping and looking around.
People can also schedule a weekday tour for their school group or large family group, Scherf says. Our activities include our tube slide, straw maze, pumpkin cannon, corn box, hay rides, a great U-pick pumpkin patch and a corn maze.
Scherf says kids love Yellow River Farms.
We also have a concession stand that offers a large variety of food options, she says. Another great thing to see when people visit the farm are all of our animals, who are part of the family. We have donkeys, goats, chickens, ducks, rabbits, peacocks, cats, a dog and our mini pony.
Families have already been participating in the weekend fun. Yellow River Farms has had a steady flow of customers.
Our weekend hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Scherf says. Our last corn maze experience is at 4 p.m., with the market open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. All of the fall activities are weekends only, unless you are scheduled for a private tour during the week.
Yellow River Farms is located at 8535 East State Road 8 in Knox. For more info, call 574-772-2581 or go to yellowriverfarms.com.
