Abel Heap immigrated to America with his family at the age of 8. He grew up on a homestead in Seward Township. On October 13th, 1866, at the age of 25, Abel married Elizabeth Hodgson. Following their marriage, they established a family homestead on the corner of US 52 and Grove Rd which is known today as Heap’s Giant Pumpkin Farm. They became parents of seven children: Clara, Julia, Frank, Walter, Charles, Alfred, and J. Wilbur. J. Wilbur later took over the farm raising a variety of crops an operating a gas station located on the farm. J. Wilbur married Maggie Maud O’Brien in 1906. They raised three children: Jesse, Milo, and Elizabeth.

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Milo took over the farm in the 1930s raising feeder cattle, hogs, corn, soybeans, oats, and hay. Milo wed Patricia Margaret Mitchell in 1940. They became the parents of one child Gary. Gary joined Milo in the farming operation in the 1970s. Gary continued to raise hogs, farrow to finish, corn, and soybeans. Gary married Linda Kay Hibler in 1984. They became the parents of Kevin and Stacy.

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Kevin showed an interest in the farming operation at a young age. However, Kevin put a twist on the traditional crops that were grown on the farm. He found a love for growing pumpkins. What started out as a few pumpkins in the backyard later grew into Heap’s Giant Pumpkin Farm. The pumpkin farm was established in 2001. The family business continued to grow from a front yard farm stand to a whole new addition to the farm. Kevin graduated from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana in December of 2009. He has joined Gary in continuing to grow corn, soybeans, and of course pumpkins!