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Photos courtesy of T&C Farms
Genuine Family Fun on T&C Farms
Sometimes the best adventures come from unexpected beginnings, and that’s exactly how T&C Farms grew into a community favorite. When J&K Farms retired in 2017 after 23 years of hosting their beloved Pumpkin Patch, Tytus and Cathi Harkins stepped in to carry on the tradition. The only catch? They had never farmed a thing in their lives. Still, they had the land, the passion, and the willingness to try something new. By January of 2018, seeds were ordered, planted in May-June, and by fall, the very first season of Pumpkin Patch at T&C Farms was in full swing.
T&C Farms is the only place in our area where you can hop on a hayride to a corn maze, wander through fields, and pick a pumpkin grown right here in Montana soil. No shipping and no shortcuts, just locally grown produce harvested by the same folks who welcome you onto the farm. Even in a tough growing season or through chilly October weather, this community has stood by them, proving just how much Billings and Laurel love their little slice of farm life.
Fall is when the farm truly shines. The Pumpkin Patch, hayrides, corn maze, and U-Pick pumpkins are a tradition families look forward to year after year. But T&C Farms doesn’t stop when the season ends. In the spring, they host the Wool Festival, and year-round, their Rafter TC operation raises beef, poultry, and sheep. They even sell extra raw cow’s and goat’s milk when available. And if that wasn’t enough, they’ve added a sawmill to the mix, selling live-edge slabs and timber beams, plus a new venture building tiny houses entirely from Montana-grown timber. The first one is set to be ready by early 2026.
The atmosphere at T&C Farms is as authentic as it gets! It’s family-friendly, farm-focused, and free of anything spooky or scary. The Harkins family is all about creating space where families can spend time together, unplugged, and surrounded by fresh air. As they like to say, You can give your family a whole day of adventure on the farm, for less than you’d spend at the movie theater.
Customers rave about the experiences year after year, and there’s no shortage of memorable moments. One of the sweetest stories? A 100-year-old woman took a hayride with her great-granddaughter, who was just one. Generations apart, yet sharing the same ride, the same laughter, and the same Montana tradition. That’s what makes T&C Farms shine. It’s a place where everyone, no matter their age, can join in on the fun.
The farm’s community spirit runs deep, too. They bring their barrel train to Laurel’s 4th of July Parade and Fall Festival, and every year they look for ways to add something new for visitors. This year, it’s coffee! T&C Farms is rolling out a full-service coffee bar in their Quonset building, aiming to brew up the best cup in Yellowstone Valley.
At its heart, T&C Farms is built on more than pumpkins, corn mazes, and hayrides. It’s rooted in biotic and regenerative farming practices that put soil health first. Everything they raise from pumpkins to beef, mutton and milk is “beyond organic” quality, because their focus has always been on quality over quantity.
T&C Farms is more than a farm, it’s a place where tradition and community come together, where the dirt under your boots feels good, and where the memories last long after the pumpkins are gone.
