Harvesting health at East Over Farm festival
Rochester resident Eric Hedblom of East Over Farm drives a tractor, taking fall festival attendees on a hayride. Photos by Grace Ann Natanawan
Rochester resident Cassie Dolan, 4, poses in front of a line of pumpkins.
Rochester resident Molly Beson, 8, rides a horse at East Over Farm.
Attendees choose and paint small pumpkins at East Over Farm.
Marion residents Mandy Givens and Gemma Givens, 3, pose with a small pumpkin Gemma painted.
Erica Ingalls, owner of Resurface Skin Studio & Co., poses in a room where she provides treatments.
Horses greeted guests at East Over Farm.
A mini horse at East Over Farm.
Rochester resident Molly Beson, 8, takes a guided ride on a horse.
Rochester resident Eric Hedblom of East Over Farm drives a tractor, taking fall festival attendees on a hayride. Photos by Grace Ann Natanawan
Rochester resident Cassie Dolan, 4, poses in front of a line of pumpkins.
Rochester resident Molly Beson, 8, rides a horse at East Over Farm.
Attendees choose and paint small pumpkins at East Over Farm.
Marion residents Mandy Givens and Gemma Givens, 3, pose with a small pumpkin Gemma painted.
Erica Ingalls, owner of Resurface Skin Studio & Co., poses in a room where she provides treatments.
Horses greeted guests at East Over Farm.
A mini horse at East Over Farm.
Rochester resident Molly Beson, 8, takes a guided ride on a horse.
ROCHESTER — Fall was in the air at East Over Farm’s autumn festival, celebrating health and wellness alongside pumpkins and ponies on Sunday, Oct. 5 in Rochester.
“It was just a way to bring the community together, open up the farm and have a fall family fun day,” said Tess Hedblom, a Rochester resident whose family has owned East Over Farm for over 100 years.
This is the second year the farm has hosted a fall festival, according to Eric Hedblom.
Alongside traditional fall fest activities like pony rides, pumpkin painting and hayrides, services from Resurface Skin Studio & Co. were showcased at the event.
Resurface Skin Studio & Co. relocated their operations from Marion to the Rochester farm in 2024. Owner Erica Ingalls stated that the studio offers “a wide range of services,” including massage therapy from Kelsey Dwyer and Erik James Hedblom, mental health counseling from Michelle Upton and photography from Jessica Lawson.
The Book Nook, a second-hand book store, is also located at the studio.
“[There’s] just something about it. It seems nice and calming and adds to the atmosphere,” she said of the property.
At the fest, the wellness studio offered complimentary consultations, 10-minute raw body massages, photo sessions and a rock garden showcase. A raffle for photo sessions, spa treatments, massages, treatments and more was also available to attendees.
“I want to bring awareness to it. This is a safe place for everybody to come,” said Ingalls.
Marion resident Mandy Givens brought her three-year-old daughter Gemma to the festival after seeing it on Facebook.
“She rode the pony, I think its name is Junior, and she painted a pumpkin with a silly face on it,” said Givens.
Gemma’s favorite part of the day was “riding the horsey!”
Hedblom stated that in December, the farm will host a Christmas event with Clydesdale rides and a visit from Santa Claus himself.
“My family and I are here, and we’re trying to keep the farm here and alive,” she said.
