Pumpkin Season

Even though there's now snow on the ground, I am still wrapping up pumpkin season.  Although our property is cleaned up within hours of closing day, with little to no signs left of The pumpkin Ranch, there is still a lot of administrative tasks to be completed...my least favorite part of running a business!  I will put these tasks off as long as I can.  It is the only part of my life where I fully embrace procrastination!

2013 was a great year at The Pumpkin Ranch.  One of the best parts of running a family business is just that...running a business and working hard as a family!  It stretches Dave and I as a couple and always brings us closer, with a deeper level of respect for the other's gifts and abilities.  As parents, we love to see our kids learn new skills and work hard.  They learned years ago that hard work = money and more opportunity.

This year Layla wanted to "have" a part of the business.  She wanted to add something that could be just hers.  She decided to sell prepackaged candy.  She learned what it was like to...

1.  Have a business plan...where can she buy the best, cheapest product and can she sell it for a profit?
2. Take a risk and invest her money
3. Borrow money
4. How to manage her books and inventory
5. Reinvest profit back into her business
6. In the end, pay back her loan and disperse funds into savings, giving, and spending

What a great process for a newly minted 8 year old!  The very best part for us, her parents, was seeing her really process what to do with her profits.  She knows she's required to save 50%, give at least 10%, and then she can decide what do with what is left (spend, save, or give).  We kept our mouths shut and let her work through those decisions on her own.  We were so proud of her choices.

Here are a few pictures of the kids' after hours fun at The Ranch.  They love the zip lines!