Sunflowers & Sunshine

The Festival

Any local resident knows the hard work Stokoe Farms puts into creating an exceptionally good time for all who visit. From the fall harvest events to cutting down your Christmas tree, you’re sure to have a great time.

This year, Stokoe Farms held a new event; The Sunflower and Sunshine Festival and donated all proceeds to the Ronald McDonald House Charities! The RMH Charities offers families a safe haven to stay while their child is in the hospital. This is pivotal, as it allows parents to be within minutes to their child’s bedsides and still be able to provide themselves with self care. I, myself, have had to use these resources. My daughter was born with a Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) called hypo-plastic left heart syndrome. This diagnosis was very grim and we lived an hour away from the children’s hospital that she needed to stay. The hospital and staff are unimaginably amazing but the room does not really allow for sleep, with the RMH, we were able to stay a floor away when we were forced to sleep, have a fresh meal whenever we needed it, a living room so we could feel somewhat normal, and cookies at 3am after a “rough day”. So when Stokoe Farms told me they were having a fundraiser to support them, I couldn’t help but jump on board.

The Sunflower and Sunshine Festival started with beautiful music as soon as you walk in the gates, views of the Christmas tree farms, the massive slide and playground and the amazing smell of apple cider donuts (which taste even better!) A hayride comes and picks you up and drops you off at the huge Sunflower patch at the bottom of the hill. Incredibly nice women handed us some sheers and told us we could pick our own blooms for our family. These sunflowers ranged from yellow to red and from small to huge, it was quite a sight! The atmosphere just really brought you in and each family that I met with had a wonderful time.

I am so thankful to all those who came to support such a wonderful and worthy cause!! Here are some of my favorite images from our mini session event! It was an honor being a part of this event!

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