Slides, hayrides and apple cider doughnuts — this farm packs autumn joy into every acre
by Sara Schafer | sschafer@ruralmissouri.coop | photos by Sara Schafer and Ricki Spargo
Rows of bright orange pumpkins stretch across the field, while children wave from their seats on the barrel train. Sticky fingers clutch warm apple cider doughnuts, and laughter rings out from the Piggly Wiggly track as a winner is crowned. Families wander through the rustling corn maze. At Gardener’s Orchard in Brighton, every corner of the farm offers a chance to savor the season. Visitors leave with more than just pretty pictures — they take home memories to last a lifetime.
For the Gradinariu family, owners of Gardener’s Orchard, watching families enjoy their farm and make core memories is the true sign of success. It’s just another reminder they’ve achieved the American Dream.
Cornelius and Verginia Gradinariu immigrated with their children from Romania to the United States in 1990. They needed to escape the political instability of their home country and set a brighter path for their children. With only a bag of legal papers, the family first landed in California before moving to Missouri in 2004, with the hopes of having a farm.
Once in Missouri, the family owned and operated commercial turkey farms for 10 years. They bought what is now Gardener’s Orchard in 2013. Since then, the family, which includes 10 children, has made the orchard blossom in many ways and has created a destination for fellow families to enjoy.
“America opened up its arms to our family,” says Andrei Gradinariu, one of the couple’s sons. “We are proud to be first-generation Americans. We’re in the only country in the world where if you come here, be honest and work hard, then you will succeed.”
In the last decade the orchard, which is served by Southwest Electric Cooperative and located between Bolivar and Springfield in Brighton, has grown in acres, crops, activities and fun. The farm originally only featured U-pick apples. The Gradinarius expanded the orchard to include 5,000 trees of 13 apple varieties and 15 peach varieties. They also annually plant 10 to 15 acres of pumpkins. Large patches of sunflowers and zinnias complete the area in the fall.
Those are just the fall crops. In the spring, strawberries cover the fields and are paired with thousands of tulips. Visitors can go home with a bucket of berries or bright spring bouquet.
In the summer, multiple high tunnels are filled with rows of tomatoes and other crops such as watermelon, cantaloupe and cucumbers dot the field. These crops are sold nearby at the family’s produce stand.
The farm covers around 100 acres. “We’re farmers; we like growing a lot of stuff,” says Andrei, known to visitors as Farmer Dre.
Dre grew up helping his dad on the farm and took over management of the orchard in the late 2010s. He earned a horticulture degree from Missouri State University in 2020 and took his full-time place at the farm. The leadership transition came as Cornelius passed away from pancreatic cancer, leaving Dre with some big shoes to fill. Dre sees it as a blessing that he was able to learn directly from his dad in those years.
Four of the Gradinariu children work full time on the farm alongside Verginia, including Dre, sisters Aurora and Ana and brother Isac. Dre serves as farm manager with lots of help from Isac. Anna is general manager, and Aurora is the farm’s pastry chef. Nely is often assisting in the kitchen and she helps Verginia run the farm store, which sells fresh produce, apple butter, frozen baked goods and more.
Aurora has made Gardener’s Orchard & Bakery a foodie destination. She earned a culinary degree from Ozarks Technical Community College and brings creativity and technical skills to the farm. Her gifts with making breads and pastries earned her the nickname the Bread Queen. Each week she bakes homemade breads, pastries, pies, doughnuts and more. Get a sneak peek into her kitchen alongside her 300,000 followers on Instagram at @in.the.bakery.
During a visit in the fall, be sure to indulge in an apple cider doughnut, an icy cider slushie or a slice of warm apple pie topped with homemade ice cream. If you want something savory, grab a slice of fresh pizza or a smash burger, which features beef from a nearby farm.
“We really indulge in our food,” Dre says. “We have all the good carnival food, but homemade with fresh fruits and vegetables off our farm. We just want to create an awesome experience with really high-quality food and fun.”
Gardener’s Orchard combines the homegrown feel and education of a working farm with the bells and whistles of an amusement park. Families can spend hours exploring the farm, as the nonfarmable acres at Gardener’s Orchard feature around 25 activities. These range from a megaslide that kids whiz down on an inner tube to a springy jump pad to an apple cannon to a corn pit. Be sure to take a ride on the Piggly Wiggly, which lets visitors race against each other on a bright pink track.
Each year Dre has a goal of adding a new activity or two. “We are a place for families to pick and play,” he says.
During the fall season the six other Gradinariu children are often at the farm helping welcome visitors, along with 35 seasonal employees.
“How we grew up is we all did everything together and we did everything as a team,” Dre says. “Growing up in a big family, we were just always used to hosting and serving others. We want to make our customers feel like family. We tell our customers we appreciate everyone who comes to the farm.”
You can stay up to date with activities, festivals and happenings on the farm by following them on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Dre, Aurora and Anna are always finding the best photos to give glimpses of the farm. Dre also posts farming updates throughout the year. “We want to showcase the operation and be transparent with our customers,” Dre says.
Throughout the year, Gardener’s Orchard hosts a variety of seasonal festivals. In the spring, tulips and baby animals welcome visitors, followed by a strawberry festival in May. The farm is also a great way to spend time with your family during Mother’s Day weekend.
Fall will always be Dre’s favorite season on the farm, not just for the pumpkins, apples and laughter, but because it reflects the legacy his parents began building decades ago. He loves watching families create the same kinds of memories he shared with his own siblings while growing up in the orchards and fields.
In October, Gardener’s Orchard and Bakery is open 12 to 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday and Tuesday. The Fall on the Farm Festival runs through Nov. 1. Find admission prices and more information at gardenersorchardandbakery.com.