Latest news with #Fergusons
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ferguson's Eau Claire Turns 15 With New Attractions and a Menu Worth Falling For
Dig into elevated fall favorites like fresh pizzas and pulled pork nachos, cool off with hard ciders, slushies and apple pie sundaes and find hours of fun with farm-themed attractions EAU CLAIRE, Wis., August 12, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ferguson's Family of Farms, home of the Midwest's ultimate fall family destinations, reopens its flagship Eau Claire location on August 16, 2025, celebrating 15 fall seasons with a brand-new attraction and an expanded food menu. With more than 300,000 visitors across its four locations last year, Ferguson's continues to set the standard, delivering immersive, memory-making experiences that go well beyond the orchard. Last year, Ferguson's produced over 13 million apples on 400,000 apple trees, which made a big impact far beyond the harvest. Each year, Ferguson's Family of Farms' orchards generate enough oxygen to support the breathing needs of more than 15,000 people, and when you add in the benefits of an apple a day, the impact is even greater. Beyond making a positive environmental impact, Ferguson's continues to broaden the experiences that make fall unforgettable for families near and far. New this year is an interactive Wild West-themed paintball gallery and an expanded menu of food and desserts, giving families even more ways to enjoy the season together, including an elevated culinary experience inspired by local ingredients and peak fall flavors. "It's been an incredible honor to share Ferguson's with the Eau Claire community for the past 15 seasons," said Andy Ferguson, co-owner of Ferguson's Orchards. "Everything we've done has been rooted in family, tradition, and the desire to keep creating something special for our guests. From new attractions to expanded offerings, we're proud to be at the forefront of agritourism in the Midwest. As we prepare to welcome our two-millionth visitor this season, we remain just as committed to creating unforgettable experiences for everyone who makes Ferguson's part of their fall tradition." Fall Flavors to the Next Level After taking a stroll through Apple Blossom Park, visitors will find an assortment of delicious ways to refuel as the Eau Claire orchard broadens its food and beverage offerings like never before. Delicious artisan-style pizzas (now with a gluten-free option), Wagyu beef chili cheese dogs, pulled pork nachos, crave-worthy cider floats and even an apple pie-inspired sundae are all on the menu for the first time. Foodies and wine connoisseurs alike will want to stop by the Country Store (no admission fee required) to enjoy this year's seasonal flavors. Mouth-watering baked goods, including pastries, cookies, muffins, pies, caramel apples and, of course, Ferguson's iconic apple cider donuts, will be on full display and ready to enjoy. The Country Store will also offer a wide selection of locally made gifts, crafts, and fresh-picked apples—including the beloved Pazazz and world-famous Honeycrisp varieties. Visitors can look forward to a new bar and picnic zone, outside the paid admission area, to sip on flavorful (and colorful!) hard cider flights, tasty brews, and the fan-favorite apple cider slushies, with or without alcohol, topped with a fresh apple cider donut! Ferguson Apple Wine is a crisp, orchard-grown varietal that promises to capture the essence of the harvest in every glass. One-of-a-Kind Farm Activities for Everyone With a plethora of attractions across the farm, Ferguson's Eau Claire offers enjoyment for everyone. From one-of-a-kind farm activities, including the grain train, corn pit, barnyard ball, duck races, and wagon rides, to unique all-time favorites such as the straw bale pyramid, giant spinning apples, pumpkin jumping pads, pedal tractors, and lawn games, Ferguson's Eau Claire promises no shortage of fun for an all-day outdoor adventure. With the new interactive Paintball Shooting Gallery, the "Saloon Shootout" (available for an additional cost), visitors can expect a thrilling experience never before seen at any of Ferguson's Family of Farms. Visitors can also explore the creative "Farm to Tap" corn maze, a 2.5-mile pathway that traces the journey of an apple from the orchard to the viral Apple Cider Slushie. For a complete list of attractions, head to Voted the number one "Best Orchard" and "Best Corn Maze" in Volume One's "Best of the Chippewa Valley Reader Poll 2025," Ferguson's Eau Claire is the perfect fall family destination, whether you're visiting the nearby Chippewa Falls or heading to Minneapolis. Admission remains just $18 per person for a full day with unlimited visits all season long. Children under two are admitted free, and tickets for active-duty personnel, veterans, and seniors are $15. Each ticket includes a season pass valid for daily entry from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends through November 2. Tickets must be purchased online—visit for details. About Ferguson's Orchards Ferguson's Orchards is the Midwest's premier fall "agritourism" destination and the region's largest commercial apple grower between the Rocky Mountains and Lake Michigan, with over 400,000 apple trees. Family-owned and family-farmed, Ferguson's has four locations in Wisconsin and Minnesota, offering best-in-class apple and pumpkin picking, corn mazes, wagon rides, and authentic farm-to-table culinary experiences, among other attractions. The Fergusons believe that knowing your farmer and seeing where your food comes from is key to a happy, healthy life and sense of community. Over the years, Ferguson's has received many awards, including Best Apple Orchard, Best Pumpkin Patch, Best Corn Maze, Best Family Entertainment Business and Small Business of the Year. To learn more, visit View source version on Contacts Gabriel Muñozgmunoz@ M: (510) 789-8917 Sign in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
12-08-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Ferguson's Eau Claire Turns 15 With New Attractions and a Menu Worth Falling For
EAU CLAIRE, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 12, 2025-- Ferguson's Family of Farms, home of the Midwest's ultimate fall family destinations, reopens its flagship Eau Claire location on August 16, 2025, celebrating 15 fall seasons with a brand-new attraction and an expanded food menu. With more than 300,000 visitors across its four locations last year, Ferguson's continues to set the standard, delivering immersive, memory-making experiences that go well beyond the orchard. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Ferguson's Family of Farms, home of the Midwest's ultimate fall family destinations, reopens its flagship Eau Claire location on August 16, 2025, celebrating 15 fall seasons with a brand-new attraction and an expanded food menu. Last year, Ferguson's produced over 13 million apples on 400,000 apple trees, which made a big impact far beyond the harvest. Each year, Ferguson's Family of Farms' orchards generate enough oxygen to support the breathing needs of more than 15,000 people, and when you add in the benefits of an apple a day, the impact is even greater. Beyond making a positive environmental impact, Ferguson's continues to broaden the experiences that make fall unforgettable for families near and far. New this year is an interactive Wild West-themed paintball gallery and an expanded menu of food and desserts, giving families even more ways to enjoy the season together, including an elevated culinary experience inspired by local ingredients and peak fall flavors. 'It's been an incredible honor to share Ferguson's with the Eau Claire community for the past 15 seasons,' said Andy Ferguson, co-owner of Ferguson's Orchards. 'Everything we've done has been rooted in family, tradition, and the desire to keep creating something special for our guests. From new attractions to expanded offerings, we're proud to be at the forefront of agritourism in the Midwest. As we prepare to welcome our two-millionth visitor this season, we remain just as committed to creating unforgettable experiences for everyone who makes Ferguson's part of their fall tradition.' Fall Flavors to the Next Level After taking a stroll through Apple Blossom Park, visitors will find an assortment of delicious ways to refuel as the Eau Claire orchard broadens its food and beverage offerings like never before. Delicious artisan-style pizzas (now with a gluten-free option), Wagyu beef chili cheese dogs, pulled pork nachos, crave-worthy cider floats and even an apple pie-inspired sundae are all on the menu for the first time. Foodies and wine connoisseurs alike will want to stop by the Country Store (no admission fee required) to enjoy this year's seasonal flavors. Mouth-watering baked goods, including pastries, cookies, muffins, pies, caramel apples and, of course, Ferguson's iconic apple cider donuts, will be on full display and ready to enjoy. The Country Store will also offer a wide selection of locally made gifts, crafts, and fresh-picked apples—including the beloved Pazazz and world-famous Honeycrisp varieties. Visitors can look forward to a new bar and picnic zone, outside the paid admission area, to sip on flavorful (and colorful!) hard cider flights, tasty brews, and the fan-favorite apple cider slushies, with or without alcohol, topped with a fresh apple cider donut! Ferguson Apple Wine is a crisp, orchard-grown varietal that promises to capture the essence of the harvest in every glass. One-of-a-Kind Farm Activities for Everyone With a plethora of attractions across the farm, Ferguson's Eau Claire offers enjoyment for everyone. From one-of-a-kind farm activities, including the grain train, corn pit, barnyard ball, duck races, and wagon rides, to unique all-time favorites such as the straw bale pyramid, giant spinning apples, pumpkin jumping pads, pedal tractors, and lawn games, Ferguson's Eau Claire promises no shortage of fun for an all-day outdoor adventure. With the new interactive Paintball Shooting Gallery, the 'Saloon Shootout' (available for an additional cost), visitors can expect a thrilling experience never before seen at any of Ferguson's Family of Farms. Visitors can also explore the creative 'Farm to Tap' corn maze, a 2.5-mile pathway that traces the journey of an apple from the orchard to the viral Apple Cider Slushie. For a complete list of attractions, head to Voted the number one 'Best Orchard' and 'Best Corn Maze' in Volume One's 'Best of the Chippewa Valley Reader Poll 2025,' Ferguson's Eau Claire is the perfect fall family destination, whether you're visiting the nearby Chippewa Falls or heading to Minneapolis. Admission remains just $18 per person for a full day with unlimited visits all season long. Children under two are admitted free, and tickets for active-duty personnel, veterans, and seniors are $15. Each ticket includes a season pass valid for daily entry from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends through November 2. Tickets must be purchased online—visit for details. About Ferguson's Orchards Ferguson's Orchards is the Midwest's premier fall 'agritourism' destination and the region's largest commercial apple grower between the Rocky Mountains and Lake Michigan, with over 400,000 apple trees. Family-owned and family-farmed, Ferguson's has four locations in Wisconsin and Minnesota, offering best-in-class apple and pumpkin picking, corn mazes, wagon rides, and authentic farm-to-table culinary experiences, among other attractions. The Fergusons believe that knowing your farmer and seeing where your food comes from is key to a happy, healthy life and sense of community. Over the years, Ferguson's has received many awards, including Best Apple Orchard, Best Pumpkin Patch, Best Corn Maze, Best Family Entertainment Business and Small Business of the Year. To learn more, visit View source version on CONTACT: Gabriel Muñoz [email protected] M: (510) 789-8917 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA WISCONSIN INDUSTRY KEYWORD: CHILDREN FAMILY FOOD/BEVERAGE CONSUMER AGRICULTURE DESTINATIONS RETAIL TOURIST ATTRACTIONS NATURAL RESOURCES TRAVEL SOURCE: Ferguson's Orchards Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 08/12/2025 05:01 AM/DISC: 08/12/2025 05:02 AM
Hamilton Spectator
31-07-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
100 years, one farmhouse: Ferguson family celebrates legacy
When Robert and Christy Belle Ferguson arrived in Niagara-on-the-Lake from Matapedia, Que. in 1925, they brought their seven children and enough belongings to fill an entire train car. What they found was 70 acres of opportunity on McNab Road. A century later, the farmhouse at 1399 McNab Rd. is still in Ferguson hands — lived in, loved and rooted in family history. This August, more than 30 Fergusons will gather to celebrate 100 years on the land. A custom banner — eight feet wide and three feet tall — showing what the property once looked like and reading '100 years of Fergusons' will hang proudly along the fence. Cousins Christina Ferguson, named after Christy Belle, and Deste Kuhn, the home's current owner, are part of the five-generation family that has called the McNab Road farmhouse home. Both are daughters of Robert and Christy Belle's sons, Marvin and Andy, and spoke with The Lake Report about the house and the legacy it holds. 'There has always been a Ferguson in that house, for the last hundred years,' said Kuhn. Christina and Deste are two of the last remaining first cousins of their generation in the Ferguson family, along with one other — John, the son of Randolph, the youngest of the original seven siblings. John now lives in British Columbia. The Ferguson story in NOTL began in 1925 when Robert, a merchant, decided to become a farmer. To learn the trade, he brought a farmer with him to live on the property for a year, staying in what the family called 'the cottage' while teaching him the ropes of fruit and cattle farming. Christy Belle died in 1942 and Robert in 1948, so neither Christina nor Kuhn ever knew them. 'Just from what we heard of them,' said Kuhn. 'The only thing I remember, unfortunately, is my dad taking me to his bedside.' Christina added, 'The same thing happened to me with my dad.' Kuhn said the original property stretched from the farmhouse to Lake Ontario. 'I believe our grandfather had 70 acres,' she said. 'Then the five boys divvied it up in a sense and they became farmers.' The farmhouse was later converted into a two-family dwelling, with eight rooms in the front and seven in the back. Kuhn now lives in the front half and her daughter, Deste Blair, lives in the back. What the family calls 'the barn' is actually a drive shed that stored equipment like tractors and plows — the original animal barn was torn down in the 1950s after sitting vacant for years. That portion of the land was later sold off and has since been home to several other families. The property also once included a small ice house, where blocks of ice were cut from a nearby creek and stored to keep food cold before refrigerators were common. Kuhn said it was likely gone by 1948. Kuhn moved into the farmhouse with her parents, Andy and Deste Monro Ferguson, in 1948 as a child. Aside from about six years spent living down the road by the lake, she has called it home ever since. 'Prior to us living there, Chris's parents lived there for a while,' she said. Christina lived there briefly around 1944 as a baby with her parents, Marvin and Bernice, and again around 1970 while her own home was being built. She said just about every branch of the family has lived there at some point. 'I think everybody did,' she said with a laugh. One memory still makes them both laugh. Kuhn's mother, who lived to 98, used to sit at the dining table and point to a crack in the window. ''That crack that's in that window is all because of you,' she'd say to Christina — she broke it when she was a kid. 'And it's funny,' Kuhn added, 'they didn't replace it.' This August's reunion will mark the Ferguson family's first full-scale celebration of their legacy. 'This is the first,' said Christina. 'So this is big.' To help the younger generation connect with the past, Kuhn has planned a scavenger-style activity where kids will search the home for features they've likely never seen — like metal floor grates and China and glass doorknobs. 'Things that they do not have in their house and maybe have never seen,' she said. A long-standing tradition will be honoured too: the ringing of the old barn bell. Once rigged to the house by rope, it was used by Kuhn's grandmother to call the family in for lunch. Over time, it was used as a signal for special occasions — a birth, a wedding, a death, an anniversary, or even the last day of school. 'Story has it that eventually, the horses would know enough: when they heard that bell, (they would) turn around and go into the barn,' Kuhn said. The reunion will feature a Ferguson piper playing Scottish tunes, old family photos, storytelling, food — and of course, children ringing the bell. Kuhn said the family is more spread out today. 'Whereas my dad's people were right in one square,' she said. But they've managed to stay in touch nonetheless, she said. There's never been disagreement about what to do with the farmhouse, but Kuhn said she believes she'll likely be the last Ferguson to live in it. 'If I decided to move, I don't think any of the children would move in. One lives there now — it would be a huge place for one person,' she said. Two realtors recently toured the property and told her it's a 'teardown,' Kuhn said. 'When you live in a place for so long, you don't see stuff like that,' she said. 'But these realtors, they were in and out like that — they knew exactly what to look for.' But this is a reality she accepts, she said. 'I don't feel sad about letting it go,' said Kuhn. 'If that's what has to be, it has to be.' paigeseburn@ Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. 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The National
27-05-2025
- Business
- The National
I do not share Kenny MacAskill's optimism about Ferguson yard
The shipyard in question is of course Fergusons of Port Glasgow, which is currently trying to complete the ferry Glen Rosa. Kenny suggests that yet another change of management is the solution to the long-term problems of the yard and the return of Jim McColl is perhaps called for. I do not know if Mr McColl has been consulted on this matter but it would be a brave (some might say foolish) move if he were to accept this considerable challenge. READ MORE: Ardrossan Harbour deal 'far from complete', campaigners claim My late father and two uncles worked in another Clyde shipyard, now long gone, in the 1960s and I feel some sympathy for the Port Glasgow workforce – but none for CalMac, CMAL, the various well-rewarded management teams who have come and gone and the politicians who have presided over this national embarrassment. Kenny is to be praised for his optimistic hope that the yard will find other work in the future but it is all too easy for future clients to take into account the events of the past few years. If Kenny's next-door neighbour commissioned a builder to build an extension to his home on the basis of a cost of, for example, £50,000 and a timescale of a year, would he commission the same builder to build a similar extension to his own home if the neighbour's costs had risen to £250,000 and the extension was still not complete after nearly nine years? Work began on the Glen Rosa in June 2016. It is a real shame that Scotland's local authorities, health boards and housing associations do not have the same free and unlimited access to the Scottish Government's bank accounts that is enjoyed by Fergusons. The almost £500,000,000 splashed out (pun very much intended) on two medium-sized ferries could have had a major impact on our NHS waiting lists, relieving the long-term pain and suffering of thousands of our fellow citizens. Perhaps some of the money could have been used to provide decent social housing for some of the 33,916 households and 10,360 children currently homeless in our land. READ MORE: ScotRail must stop using my voice for AI announcements, voiceover artist demands Much, I assume, to the discomfort and embarrassment of our government, it now appears that the Glen Rosa will not carry a single passenger before the May 2026 Scottish Parliament elections. Assorted Unionist politicians will make the most of this situation – and who can blame them. The cost to complete the Glen Rosa is now apparently, at the very least, another £35,000,000 with no real guarantee that this will be enough to complete all the work required. In late November 2022, Audit Scotland announced that it was unable to account for £128.25 million in public money spent by Fergusons on the ferries. Furthermore, it was unable to trace how a £30m Scottish Government loan to Ferguson was spent. For a comparison, the RMS Titanic's construction cost was £1,500,000, which is around £180,000,000 in today's money. It only took around three years to build. It weighed in at around 50,000 tonnes. The Glen Rosa weighs only around 3000 tonnes – about 16 times smaller. These and many other factors will be taken into account when we come to place our marks on the two Scottish Parliament ballot papers in under a year's time. Taken together with the SNP's absence of a clear path to independence, the outcome is far from certain. Sandra West Dundee
Daily Record
30-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Shipyard workers 'not to blame' for CalMac ferry fiasco as union calls for more orders to boost fleet
Shipyard workers are not to blame for the CalMac ferry fiasco and more new vessels are needed if services are to improve, a trade union has warned. The GMB said Scotland's ageing maritime transport network needed to be substantially rebuilt to provide more reliable links to island communities. The union represents workers at the Ferguson Marine yard in Port Glasgow which has been at the centre of a long-running political scandal involving the building of the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa ferries. Only one of the boats has so far entered service and there is no firm completion date for the other. The wild cost overruns of their construction pushed Fergusons into the red and resulted with the yard being nationalised by the SNP Government in 2019. Alex Logan, the union's convenor at the Port Glasgow shipyard, told delegates at the STUC conference today that Scotland's ferry system should be restructured. He argued such a move is needed to protect island communities with Fergusons becoming 'a cornerstone of an industrial strategy to provide Scotland's publicly-owned ferry fleet.' He said: 'There have been serious mistakes made with Rosa and Sannox but they were not made by the workers. Our yard has been building good ships for more 100 years and, with vision and ambition, we could be building them for 100 more.' Fergusons failed to win a £175m contract for seven small CalMac ferries awarded to a Polish yard, Remontowa, last month despite the Scots yard building a third of CalMac's current 36-strong fleet. Logan said: 'In an island nation like Scotland, why is a publicly owned yard not building ships for a publicly owned ferry company? "Why are ministers in Edinburgh allowing contracts to be sent to Poland when they have a skilled, capable and committed workforce along the M8? "It is absurd but only the latest example of how our public procurement system works. There is no joined up thinking on our ferries as politicians outsource decisions to unaccountable quangos where islanders and workers struggle to be heard.' The West Coast ferry network is currently overseen by three organisations, Transport Scotland, acting for the Scottish Government, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), and CalMac but critics claim the system has failed to deliver for islanders or taxpayers. GMB is calling for a review to establish if ferry operator CalMac should be merged with CMAL, which owns and commissions ferries and terminals, and take sole charge of the fleet while working closely with Fergusons to commission and deliver small ferries.
