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New orchard owners pick up where Shihatas left off

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Gabby and Collin Huge, along with her father, Paul DeVoss, purchased Shihata’s Orchard July 1, and are busy as bees already this fall season learning the business and enjoying meeting the many customers who visit. (Photos by Correne Martin)

Collin and Gabby Huge and Paul DeVoss have emersed themselves completely into learning the business of running the local apple orchard, since purchasing it from Dave and Linda Shihata July 1.

New owner Collin Huge (left) takes the keys to Shihatas Orchard from former owner Dave Shihata. (Submitted photo)

Collin and Dave—who is staying on staff along with his wife, Linda, as a consultant for a year—spend some time out in the orchard fields. (Submitted photo)

By Correne Martin

 

The first weekend in October would typically be Orchardfest at Shihata’s Orchard. Though orchard-goers will still tour the Apple House, Bakery Barn, U-Pick grove of trees and Country Fun Park, it may happen in a slightly less celebratory fashion due to coronavirus limitations. 

Still, there’s reason to relish in the delightful family traditions of fall at Shihata’s Orchard. 

New ownership is enlivening the scenic 96-acre, 17,000-tree attraction just a few miles northeast of Prairie du Chien along Limery Road. 

Collin and Gabby Huge, along with her father, Paul DeVoss, purchased the apple orchard July 1, from Dave and Linda Shihata—second-generation owners/operators who carried on the legacy Dave’s parents, Moe and Mary, started in 1968.

“Living here, I had a feeling we’d end up with the orchard,” said Paul DeVoss, who has resided on the property, down past the Bakery Barn, for 14 years. The Shihatas were his neighbors, and will continue to live in their house on-site as well. “When Dave and Linda started talking about retirement, I was hopeful that maybe it could become our family business.”

So, Paul presented the idea to Gabby several times last fall. 

“I was really hesitant,” she said. “Dad and Collin are big picture guys. I’m the one who needs to figure out all the little details. Dad kept calling me, and each time, I was a more convinced.”

Gabby and Collin were living in North Carolina, where he was an Army medic at Fort Bragg. He was uncertain of a career after the Army, so buying the orchard was the perfect opportunity for the young couple to move back to the area they formerly called home. The DeVosses were from Bagley and the Huge family was from Glen Haven. Gabby and Collin are both River Ridge High School alumni. 

They worked out the fine details with Dave and Linda, and the sale became official—just a month and a half before the start of apple season. 

Seemingly in disbelief yet, Gabby said, “It’s been amazing. We’re so blessed that all the employees stayed on (through the transition).”

Dave and Linda have been hired as consultants for the next year. 

“Linda answers all of my phone calls. Dave helps Collin with all the farming,” Gabby said.

“We’re definitely appreciative of what the Shihatas have built up over the years,” Collin added.

Paul shared his pride in the family’s business move and their “no guts no glory” perspective moving forward. He himself purchased The Crooked Oar Bar and Marina in Prairie du Chien about five years ago, and brings to the table his own experiences rebuilding that entity.

Collin has been working at the orchard since April, learning and training on the science behind the scenes: studying tree fruit production, growth and disease management, in addition to picking apples, pressing cider, mowing, planting pumpkins, etc.

“There’s a lot of trial and error in learning. Dave’s good help; he’s a good teacher,” Collin stated. 

Gabby works full-time at the local hospital yet puts in plenty of time at the orchard before and after those hours. She’s employed her skills in both the retail buildings: baking and selling the pastry treats, apples and other merchandise; managing the paperwork; and taking care of social media and marketing for the business. 

The couple also has siblings from both sides of the family, and friends, helping where they can. 

Each of them has had their hands in dipping the caramel apples and baking the apple cider doughnuts. They shared a good laugh at how popular these products have become for customers. 

Paul said they made 32 batches, totaling 4,600 doughnuts (384 dozens), one recent weekend morning. Nearly as soon as the stores opened at 9 a.m., they were all gone. So by 9:45, he was back baking again. 

Gabby joked about how she likes to spray the doughnuts with a little extra apple cider than her husband does, so customers should be able to tell who the baker is for each day they visit. 

The high demand for Shihata’s Orchard products this summer and fall, despite COVID-19, has made this a fantastic first season for the new owners. They said there have been lines out the doors consistently. Dave and Linda even confirmed this is one of the best year’s they’ve seen.

“I think COVID made things better,” Paul said. 

“People just want to get out,” Gabby continued. “We see a lot of families come and picnic at a safe distance on the grounds.”

She mentioned that Shihata’s Orchard welcomes a lot of customers who drive to the orchard from Iowa. Because Iowa doesn’t have a mask mandate in place, sometimes, those customers don’t bring masks. But, they are happy to social distance. 

“They just want to come and enjoy themselves. It’s crazy how many families and kids can spend a whole day here,” Collin said. 

With an abundance of ideas in mind for the future of the beloved apple orchard, the new owners are “not after the dollar.” For them, this venture is about continuing that motivation of offering people a good, old-fashioned family experience. 

Gabby said that may involve adding a corn maze, expanding their season by opening earlier in the summer and staying open into Thanksgiving and Christmas, restyling the Country Fun Park, baking more pumpkin-flavored treats, introducing new apple varieties in addition to the current dozen, and simply adding more fun activities.

“These two, I’m so proud of them, it’s unreal,” Paul remarked. “Now we can walk around the apple trees, and this is ours.”

For all the hard work they’ve embarked upon, the beauty, peace and bounty of the orchard is quite the reward.

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