Not many people see fields of sunflowers in northwestern Iowa, where corn and soybean fields dominate the landscape. This summer, however, travelers along Highway 3 just east of Akron were treated to a bright patch of yellow sunflowers grown by Akron-Westfield FFA member Ben Philips.
Philips, whose family grows crops and raises cattle, decided to do something different for his supervised agricultural experience (SAE) in 2022. During the first week of June, with help from his father, he planted 3.5 acres of Peredovik sunflowers. On a corner of land highly visible from the road within a couple miles of town, the spot was perfect for an agritourism operation.
Taking inspiration from an aunt who operates the Sunflower Experience in northeastern Iowa, the 16-year-old opened The Sunflower Patch to visitors in July.
The Patch
Philips had a lot to learn about growing sunflowers in his first season, such as how long it takes the flowers to bloom (up to two months) and how to make a profit.
He decided to charge $5 per person to enter the patch, which he made accessible by mowing a 1/3-mile pathway through the 5-foot-tall flowers. The fee included one sunflower to take home, and more could be purchased for $1 each.
Philips strategically placed hay bales, benches, a classic red Radio Flyer wagon and a children’s John Deere tractor along the path as opportunities for photographs and relaxation.
In addition to being his own boss, Philips learned how to manage employees. He hired as many as seven friends to pull weeds from the rows of sunflowers before opening to the public, and kept two employees on through the summer to assist with customers.
The first week was slow, with only two or three visitors. The friends, who promoted the patch via Facebook and Instagram, were unsure they should continue. By the weekend, though, dozens of people showed up.
“As time went on, more and more people started coming in,” says Philips, adding that the patch was busy from 8 a.m. to about 8 p.m. through mid-August.
The Future
The sea of yellow flowers attracted hundreds of people, including professional photographers and those looking for a fun family-friendly outing. It also attracted butterflies, bees and birds.
Some of those birds likely spread seeds throughout the area, as Philips saw sunflowers popping up in different places since starting his patch.
“It’s just cool to think those are my sunflowers,” Philips says.
His plan included harvesting his sunflower seeds to sell to a specialty mill and use as bird feed. Peredovik sunflowers are known for high oil content and for being beneficial to both songbirds and game birds.
He will also sell dried sunflower heads at a local festival, and start preparing to do it all again next year.
To other FFA members with unique SAE ideas, Philips says: “Just go for it because usually your community will help you out.”
Photography: Amber Sky Media
