Why Locals Near Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Keep Coming Back To This Family Farm Market

The sweet corn here gets hand-picked several times a day during the season. Not once a day. Several times, so the ears on the table are about as fresh as corn gets without a field trip.

That would be enough for me. But this family farm also grows about 95 percent of its plants from seed, right on site. We’re talking more than 150 kinds of hostas alone, which feels like a lot of hostas for one place.

I love the idea of a farm stand that refuses to stay small. Spring brings greenhouse flowers, summer brings bushels of vegetables, and fall rolls out a corn maze. Winter even has old-fashioned hard Christmas candy in the store.

The family has worked this Wisconsin land since 1904. So what keeps a century-old farm this busy all year long?

Five Generations Have Kept This Farm Busy Since 1904

Max Klinger started this farm back in 1904. Today, Klinger’s Farm Market is run by Troy Amelse, his great-great-grandson, making it a fifth-generation family operation. The farm’s story takes some surprising turns. It began as a dairy farm for its first two decades.

Then things got unusual. The family raised foxes in the 1920s and 1930s, then switched to mink until 1996. Vegetables entered the picture in the 1960s. A Future Farmers of America project involving potatoes sparked the whole garden business.

That’s a pretty big legacy for one school project. Somewhere, an FFA advisor deserves a thank-you card. The greenhouses arrived in the 1980s and grew into a major part of the business. Each generation added something new without tossing out what worked before.

I appreciate that kind of steady growth. It explains why the place feels like a real family farm instead of a store dressed up as one. Plans keep moving forward, too. Current management is working on a solar project that could supply a large share of the farm’s power.

So the next chapter is already underway. A farm that started with cows may soon run partly on sunshine.

That Famous Sweet Corn Barely Has Time To Leave The Field

Here’s a farm that calls its own sweet corn famous, and it backs that up with effort. When the season arrives, workers hand-pick it multiple times a day.

That matters more than it sounds. Sweet corn tastes best when it’s freshly picked, so frequent harvests keep the supply moving straight from field to table. The corn grows in the farm’s 50-acre garden. That’s a lot of rows for one family to tend.

Planning a summer cookout in Wisconsin? Corn like this might quietly become the main event, no matter what’s on the grill.

Timing helps here. Sweet corn is a seasonal crop, so it’s smart to watch for when picking begins each summer. You can buy produce by the pound or by the bushel at Klinger’s Farm Market. A bushel is a serious commitment, but freezing extra corn is a classic Midwest hobby.

My advice is simple. Grab more than you think you need, because a dozen ears disappears fast at a family dinner. Also, bring a cooler on hot days. Your corn deserves a comfortable ride home.

Fifty Acres Of Vegetables Means Your Shopping List Will Grow

Potatoes started it all, so naturally they still show up in force. You’ll find several kinds, including Yukon Gold and Russet Burbank. The homegrown list keeps going from there. Peas, beans, tomatoes, peppers, melons, asparagus, squash, and cabbage all come from the farm’s garden.

Need more? Broccoli, cauliflower, beets, cucumbers, and Brussels sprouts round things out nicely. I think half the fun would be seeing what’s ready that week. A farm this size changes its lineup as each crop has its moment.

The market also brings in Wisconsin-grown extras during their seasons. Strawberries, apples, carrots, and onions join the homegrown crops at different points in the year.

Canning fans should pay attention here. Buying by the bushel makes big batches of salsa, pickles, or tomato sauce much easier. A smaller haul works fine, too. Buying by the pound lets you grab just enough for a few dinners.

One tip helps a lot. Bring sturdy bags or a box, because tomatoes and melons don’t love being stacked together. Your future self, unpacking a perfectly intact tomato, will appreciate the planning.

Plant Lovers Should Budget Extra Time For The Greenhouses

The farm has 18 greenhouses filled with an impressive selection of plants. Either way, that’s a lot of glass full of green. The impressive part is where the plants come from. Klinger’s Farm Market grows a large selection of flowers, vegetables, and herbs right on site.

That includes annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, shrubs, and trees. Hanging baskets get plenty of attention, too.

Hosta fans, brace yourselves. The farm grows more than 150 varieties, which could turn one shady corner of your yard into a full collection. Vegetable gardeners can start their season here as well. Tomato and pepper plants grown on site give backyard gardens a head start.

My suggestion is to make a list before you go. Then expect to ignore it at least a little. Spring is the big season for greenhouse shopping in Wisconsin. Mother’s Day weekend tends to be a popular time for flower shopping everywhere, so earlier visits may offer the fullest selection.

Leave room in your car, too. Hanging baskets take up more space than you’d guess.

Your Garden Might Leave With A New Fountain Or Statue

Plants are only part of the garden story here. The garden center also stocks terra cotta pottery, bird baths, fountains, and garden statuary. Garden art fills in the fun details. A quirky statue can give a flower bed real personality.

Practical gear is covered as well. You’ll find gardening tools and organic gardening products for keeping everything healthy. I like the idea of a true one-stop trip. You could pick out a plant, the pot for it, and the tools to get it in the ground.

Klinger’s Farm Market describes itself as that kind of one-stop shop. For busy gardeners, fewer errands means more time actually gardening.

Spring shoppers can grab seeds there, too. Packaged and bulk seeds, set onions, onion plants, flowering bulbs, and seed potatoes all arrive for planting season. Seed potatoes feel especially fitting. After all, a potato project helped launch this farm’s vegetable business.

Measure your spaces before shopping for big items. A fountain looks smaller in a garden center than it does on your patio. Trust me, a tape measure is cheaper than a second trip.

Fall Turns The Whole Farm Into A Free Playground

Pumpkin bowling is a real activity here, and it’s exactly as fun as it sounds. It’s part of a free family fun area that opens in fall. Gourd tic-tac-toe joins the seasonal activities, while the family fun area offers pumpkin bowling, duck races, a corn box, and a jungle gym.

Kids burn energy fast on a jumping pillow. Parents may find the corn pit oddly relaxing, too.

Free is a wonderful word for families. It means a fall outing doesn’t have to drain the wallet before anyone even picks a pumpkin. The fun area makes the farm feel like a destination rather than a quick stop. That fits the family’s goal of offering a full experience beyond shopping.

Dress for the weather, though. Wisconsin autumn can swing from sunny to chilly in one afternoon. Wear shoes you don’t mind getting dusty. A corn pit has a sneaky way of ending up inside socks.

Bring a camera for the photo ops. Little ones surrounded by pumpkins make for pictures you’ll want to frame.

Five Acres Of Corn Maze Will Test Your Sense Of Direction

Five acres of twisting paths can humble even the most confident navigator. Klinger’s Farm Market plants its corn maze each fall as a seasonal highlight. Think about it. A farm famous for corn would naturally build a giant puzzle out of it.

Mazes are great for groups. One person always insists on leading, and one person always turns out to be wrong. Wear comfortable shoes for this one. Five acres covers a lot of ground, and dead ends add extra steps.

Stick together with younger kids. Tall corn makes it easy to lose sight of each other around a corner. Picking a meeting spot before you start is a smart move. That way, everyone knows where to regroup if the group splits up.

Afterward, the decorations aisle is waiting. Pumpkins, gourds, mums, ornamental corn, corn stalks, and straw bales are all available for fall decorating.

That makes it easy to bring the season home. A few corn stalks and a stack of pumpkins can transform any front porch. Just don’t build a maze in your yard. The neighbors might get lost.

Winter Brings Christmas Trees, Wreaths, And Old-Fashioned Candy

Chocolate-covered angel food might be the most delightful phrase on this whole list. It shows up among the holiday treats each winter. Old-fashioned hard Christmas candy fills the store, too. Specialty candies round out the sweet side of the season.

Holiday decorating gets a local touch. Klinger’s Farm Market sells locally grown Christmas greenery, Christmas trees, and hand-decorated wreaths. Unique decorations are part of the mix as well. That’s handy for anyone tired of the same ornaments every big-box store sells.

Birds get some love in winter, too. The farm sells birdseed, including its own homegrown black oil sunflower seed. Bird feeders, plus pet and wildlife food, are also on the shelves. Feeding backyard birds is a favorite cold-weather hobby across Wisconsin.

I appreciate a farm that doesn’t just close up after harvest. The market stays open year-round, so winter visits still make sense. Measure your ceiling before picking a tree. A tree that looks perfect outside can feel enormous in a living room.

Then grab the candy. You’ve earned it after hauling that tree.

Plan Your Visit Around Fresh Hours And A Well-Stocked Pantry

Despite the early-bird legend, nobody needs an alarm clock set for dawn. The market generally opens at 9 a.m. and stays open until 6 p.m. daily.

The farm also lists extended hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday during part of the year, so check the schedule before visiting. You’ll find Klinger’s Farm Market at 12756 132nd Street, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729. It’s an easy drive from the Eau Claire area.

The year-round store is worth a slow lap. Local honey, jams, jellies, and maple syrup line the shelves. Pantry staples are part of the charm here. Wild rice, dried peas, beans, and popcorn make great take-home treats.

Sweet tooth? Various candies and gourmet chocolates are waiting, along with Sugar and Spice brand spices. Gift cards are available, too. They make a thoughtful present for the gardener who already owns every tool.

Every season offers a different reason to stop by in Wisconsin. Spring has plants, summer has corn, fall has mazes, and winter has trees. That might be the real secret here. There’s never a bad time to show up.