Joe and Alanna Bishop pose with their young son among the marigolds at Bishop & Company Farm in Wheatland. The couple celebrated the inaugural season of their U-pick flower and pumpkin farm in 2026. Photo courtesy of Alanna Bishop

WHEATLAND, CA (MPG) - “Remember your dream.” Those were the three simple words Sandy Bishop scrawled onto a note accompanying a collection of flower seeds for her granddaughter-in-law, Alanna Bishop. It was Christmas 2023, and Alanna's dream of opening her own U-pick flower farm still seemed a long way off. But Sandy knew a thing or two about turning farming dreams into reality.

More than 50 years earlier, she and her husband, Bill Bishop, had started a modest pumpkin farm in Wheatland that would eventually grow into one of Northern California's most recognizable fall destinations: Bishop's Pumpkin Farm. Now, another generation of Bishops is starting to bloom.

In June, Sandy's grandson, Joe Bishop, and his wife, Alanna, welcomed their first visitors to Bishop & Company Farm, a small U-pick flower and pumpkin operation on approximately 4 acres of leased land in Wheatland. Despite the familiar name and family ties, the new venture is entirely separate from Bishop's Pumpkin Farm, now operated by Joe's uncle, Wayne Bishop, and other family members. But the similarities between the two farms' humble beginnings are difficult to ignore.

"(Sandy) swears they started just the way we did. Without two pennies to rub together and a dream," Alanna said. "Turns out, you'll need some grit too."

A sunflower blooms among the flower fields at Bishop & Company Farm in Wheatland on Oct. 17. Photo by Shamaya Sutton

For Joe, farming has been a lifelong pursuit. He spent years growing hay and other crops alongside his father under the Bishop & Sons name, even using his hay earnings to purchase Alanna's wedding ring.

"I look at my ring daily and know the sacrifice that it took to give me something so precious," Alanna said.

Those years on the hay farm sparked an idea. Alanna wanted others to experience the same connection to agriculture that she had discovered.

"I would tell Joe, if only we could bring people out here. People have to experience the farm," she recalled.

But purchasing their own farmland proved financially out of reach. After selling their first home in Lincoln in 2023, the couple hoped the proceeds might be enough to purchase a farm. Instead, they discovered that realizing their dream would require a different approach. Not surprisingly, it was Sandy’s advice that helped set their plans in motion.

"Just start, the pieces fall into place once you get going," Sandy told them.

A young visitor selects marigolds at Bishop & Company Farm in Wheatland on Oct. 17. Photo by Shamaya Sutton

Alanna started creating floral arrangements for weddings and holidays before expanding into pumpkin porch decorations. She started planting flowers in her yard, eventually expanding to rows of flowers and pumpkins at her in-laws' property.

"We learned you do not need a lot of land to produce a lot of flowers!" she said.

Eventually, the couple secured approximately 4 acres of leased land along Forty Mile Road in Wheatland. In June, they opened their gates or, as Alanna jokingly described it, their driveway, to the public.

“It feels like we are doing exactly what we are supposed to be doing,” Alanna said. “I knew the farm was healing from back in our hay days. I am so beyond grateful that we have the opportunity to share our farm.”

While the original Bishop's Pumpkin Farm has grown into a sprawling attraction with train rides, hayrides, a bakery and other seasonal entertainment, Bishop & Company Farm offers a smaller, more intimate experience centered around the fields themselves.

Visitors can pick flowers including dahlias, zinnias, sunflowers, cosmos, marigolds and chrysanthemums. The farm also offers seasonal vegetables, melons, pumpkins and decorative porch arrangements.

For younger visitors, the couple introduced "Little Farmers" workshops for children ages 3 to 7, encouraging families to spend time outdoors while learning about agriculture. The response has exceeded Alanna's expectations, with many first-time visitors becoming repeat customers.

"We know times are hard; flowers and pumpkins are a luxury when gas is $7 a gallon," she said. "It is not lost on us the sacrifice people make to support us and that means a lot."

A handwritten note from Sandy Bishop encouraged her granddaughter-in-law, Alanna Bishop, to pursue her dream of opening a U-pick flower farm. Photo courtesy of Alanna Bishop

Like most farming ventures, the Bishops' inaugural season has not been without challenges. Persistent winds and unpredictable weather tested the couple's patience, prompting plans to improve their planting schedules and pest management practices next year.

Meanwhile, both Joe and Alanna continue working full-time jobs while personally tending the fields and welcoming guests. Their young son has also become part of the endeavor, learning firsthand about customer service, dedication and the work required to run a family business.

"I look at my husband often and think geez we either are building something that one day will benefit our family substantially or we are completely wasting our time and resources," Alanna said, laughing at the uncertainty.

Still, she said she would rather risk failure than never pursue the dream at all. With their inaugural season coming to a close, the couple is already planning for the future. They recently purchased 50 peony roots, which will take approximately three years to reach harvest, and invested in additional dahlia tubers in response to customer requests. Plans for next season also include expanded flower selections, designated photography areas and monthly Little Farmers workshops.

As they look ahead, Alanna hopes their small farm can someday establish a legacy of its own, much like the one Sandy and Bill began more than five decades ago.

"We hope to contribute just as positively to our community and maybe we too will have 54 harvests one day."

Bishop & Company Farm is located at 1234 Forty Mile Road in Wheatland. The farm's inaugural season concludes Saturday, Oct. 31, with U-pick hours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit http://bishopcofarm.com.