From City Boy to Farmer: Tim Vala’s Journey to Building Nebraska’s Largest Agritourism Destination

Tim Vala describes himself as a city boy raised in Omaha, but he had a wild idea: he could become a farmer. With little more than determination and a dream, he found land that he could buy bit by bit. When he bought his first tractor, he didn’t even know how to drive it home. His first crops of fruits and vegetables? He had no idea how to grow them. But through research, self-education, and pure perseverance, Tim made it happen. What started on a few rented acres on the outskirts of Omaha has grown to become Nebraska’s largest agritourism destination known as Vala's Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard. To hear about Tim’s journey and challenges, check out the latest episode of the Building Nebraska podcast, where he dives deeper into the creation of Vala’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard and his vision for the future. Building Nebraska is powered by the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.