Family spends 52 years planting melons, pumpkins by hand in Buffalo County [Video]

RAVENNA, Neb. (KOLN) – A Ravenna family turned a passion into an operation that has grown into 52 years of labored love.

The Urwiller family started growing melons along Highway 2 in 1972. They have turned that small business into 40 acres of melons and pumpkins that are planted by hand by Rob Urwiller and his family.

Urwiller is often seen with a hoe and pale seed. He said that when the melons and pumpkins grow, he’s picky about what he chooses.

“Always make sure the bottom is flat so it will stand up, and it’s got to have a good stem,” Rob said.

Out of all the years he has been the owner of Urwiller’s Melon Patch, he said that this year is the best one yet.

“We needed it because the last two years were not good. We had two hailstorms two years ago, and we had drought conditions last …