ORCHARD TOUR
by Bill Diller

As autumn approaches certain happenings stand out in Huron County. Farmers' trucks are lined up and ready for the fall harvest. Beans, sugar beets and corn beckon from the fields. Young men perspire in the hot August sun, gearing up for another year of football. Kids shop for just that right outfit to impress their friends on the first day of school. Hunters are hitting the fields and wood lots, staking out the spot they hope that trophy buck will pass. The tourist season is winding down, and county residents look forward to a lessening of the hectic pace of summer. It's also the beginning of apple season.

Each year Leipprandt Orchards offers some of the finest apple products in the county. Apples, jams and jellies and prize-winning apple cider are just a few of the attractions at the orchard store. The nearby orchard is teeming with apples, and an interesting place for a visit.

For many years Leipprandt Orchards has conducted tours for area school children. Nearly every day in September and October Kim and Peggy Leipprandt can be seen leading a troop of youngsters through the orchard. They explain the procedures of growing apples, and even let the little ones enjoy a sample of freshly picked fruit.

"We've been doing this for 16 years," Peggy said. "Last year we had 1,018 children take this tour."

They've conducted tours for more than 40 different schools, and have led as many as 75 children at one time through the orchard.

One such tour was conducted for a small group from Our Savior Lutheran Preschool, in Bad Axe. Accompanied by their teacher, Marilee Hanson, and interested parents and relatives, the children learned how to pick an apple, and were even encouraged to scare the deer away, by yelling, 'Deer, stay out of the orchard.'

The children were shown a 'special apple,' which hangs throughout the orchard. This 'apple' is actually a ball covered with a sticky substance that entices bugs to land, and not get away. In this way it can be determined which insects are visiting the orchard, and the owners know what sprays to use to deter them.

After a walk through the orchard, the children visited the back rooms at the orchard store. Here they saw how apples are separated for different purposes, such as for use as apple cider. They also visited the cold room, where the apples are stored before going out on the shelves for sale.

As a special treat, the children saw a 'train' carrying apples to market. This train is a scale model with a track running around the interior of the orchard store, near the ceiling. Naturally, this was one of the highlights for these preschool youngsters.

At the close of the tour, the children were given coloring books, and a bag of apples to take back to school. A good time was had by all, including the chaperons.

The orchard tours are only part of the attraction at Leipprandt Orchards, which is located at 7171 Filion Road, Pigeon, Michigan. The Orchard Store will be open until December 17, 2005. Hours are Monday thru Saturday from 9 AM to 5:30 PM, and on Sunday from 11 AM until 5 PM.

If you have any questions concerning arranging a school tour, or for additional information on Leipprandt Orchards, contact Kim or Peggy at 989-453-2851. You can also visit Leipprandt Orchards on the Internet at www.leipprandt-orchards.com.