A little bit of everything from Ed Dunneback’s girls

A century of soil, sweat and stewardship thrives in Grand Rapids. At Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm Market the rows run long, the roots run deep and the family story stretches across five generations of growers, gatherers and gracious hosts.

Long before festivals filled the fields and families frolicked among pumpkins and sunflowers, the farm’s foundation was simple and steadfast.

In 1925 Sarah Stoddard’s great-grandfather, Ed Dunneback, planted the farm’s first seeds. He coaxed crops from the Great Lakes State’s soil and carved out a livelihood through long seasons and longer days. That farm grew into a productive patchwork of fields that today stretches across roughly 170 acres.

Now, 101 years later, the soil still sustains the farm’s central purpose. Spring pushes up the first green spears of asparagus. Early summer ushers in strawberries. Mid-summer brings both sweet and tart cherries. By late summer, towering sunflowers sway across the fields in golden ranks. When autumn arrives, the apple orchards and pumpkin patches welcome eager pickers.

From May through October the property pulses with its busiest stretch of the year as harvests, visitors and activity overlap in a lively seasonal rhythm.

Though agritourism has become a modern buzzword, the farm’s roots in welcoming visitors stretch back nearly as far as the operation itself. In the early decades the Dunneback family hosted barn dances that blended music and rural community. Neighbors gathered beneath wooden rafters where pianos were played, boots were bandied about and laughter carried through warm summer nights.

Sarah’s grandfather, also named Ed, met his future wife during one of those lively evenings. She was performing with a musical group called “Ma Loveless and Her Boys.” Among the instruments accompanying those performances was a piano that still holds a place of honor at the farm today. It now sits on display, a charming relic from the era of lively barn dances.

As the farm passed from one generation to the next it became known as Ed Dunneback & Son. During the Vietnam War Sarah’s Uncle Mike had the opportunity to take a farm deferment that would have allowed him to remain home and continue working the fields. Instead, he chose military service. In 1969 he was killed in action, a loss that shaped both the family and the farm.

In the years that followed, the next generation stepping into the operation included Ed’s daughters, Suanne and Pam. The farm’s name shifted to reflect that new reality and enduring resilience: Ed Dunneback & Girls.

That legacy continues through Suanne, whose last name is now Shoemaker, and through her daughters. Sarah Stoddard helps run the farm alongside her sister Stephanie Ginsberg, making the current caretakers the fourth generation to tend the land.

The fifth generation is already close behind. Sarah has three sons while Stephanie has three daughters, creating a lively collection of future farmers who grew up among orchards, tractors and market stands.

While agriculture remained the backbone of the business, the family also saw opportunities to broaden the farm’s appeal. In the 1980s Suanne became involved with the North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association (now NAFDMA), an organization that encouraged farmers to connect directly with customers and explore new visitor-focused experiences.

That involvement sparked a steady expansion into agritourism. The additions arrived gradually yet purposefully, transforming the farm into a destination that blended agriculture with entertainment and education.

One of the earliest additions was an onsite bakery. Soon afterward an outdoor play area appeared, offering space for young visitors to burn off energy while parents browsed the market.

Today children bounce across a giant jump pad, ride a barrel train and climb aboard tractor rides that rumble through the countryside. A sprawling corn maze challenges the more adventurous visitors.

Animals add another layer of charm. Goats, pigs and miniature donkeys peer curiously at passing guests. Ducks and chickens wander about in constant motion. A shaggy Highland cow has become one of the farm’s most photographed residents.

Among the goats is one particularly inquisitive character called Sherlock Holmes. The name proves fitting for a creature known for poking around pens and peering into places. Should a stray carrot disappear or a snack go missing, the farm’s unofficial detective is already on the case. His track record is impressive, but (spoiler alert) – it was Sherlock. He ate the carrot. Case closed.

Alongside the attractions came an expanding calendar of events that celebrates the farm’s harvests.

May begins with Asparagus Fest, a tribute to the spring crop that signals the start of the busy season. June follows with Strawberry Fest, when fresh berries take center stage. July brings Cherry Fest, highlighting both sweet and tart varieties from the orchards. August offers both Pickle Fest and Sunflower Fest (which creates one of the farm’s most photogenic scenes).

Autumn is the busiest stretch. Fall festivals fill every weekend as families arrive to pick pumpkins, sip cider and sample seasonal treats. Visitors can purchase individual admission tickets or opt for a season pass.

Music remains a steady presence on the property, echoing the farm’s early traditions. Smaller musical acts perform indoors on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons. Summer also features larger outdoor concerts on the third Wednesdays of June, July and August. Guests gather with lawn chairs to listen to live performances under open skies.

For those who enjoy a cranial competition, Wednesday nights bring lively trivia games. Monthly line dancing nights have popped up too.

For visitors seeking a more savory experience, the operation hosts farm-to-table dinners from May through August. These ticketed events highlight seasonal ingredients grown on the property and showcase dishes prepared with fresh farm flavor.

Even winter carries its own festive flair. Holiday events such as “Santa on the Farm” and the playful “Grinchmas” celebration invite families back long after the harvest season ends.

The farm’s spirit of experimentation continued into recent years. In 2019, Sarah and Stephanie helped launch a new venture called Pink Barrel Cellars, adding craft beverages to the farm’s growing list of offerings.

The operation produces a wide range of drinks including wines, ciders, various styles of beer and hard seltzers. Among the most popular pours is a Honeycrisp Ale inspired by the farm’s apple harvest. Their hard seltzers have also earned recognition at the U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Championship, bringing national accolades to the rural production line.

The farm has also become a popular setting for celebrations. Two rustic venues, the Corn Crib Barn and the Horse Bit Barn, host a variety of gatherings including showers, birthday parties, graduation celebrations and rehearsal dinners.

The Dunneback family continues to plant new possibilities too. Recently the farm began growing Christmas trees, adding Canaan and Fraser firs to the fields.

What began in 1925 as a hardworking farmstead has grown into a lively landscape where crops flourish, children laugh and visitors gather across every season. The barn dances have evolved into concerts, festivals and family events, yet the spirit remains remarkably similar. A century after Ed Dunneback first turned the earth, the farm continues to thrive through a blend of tradition, tenacity and a touch of playful rural creativity.

by Enrico Villamaino