Mountain Valley Ranch celebrates 20th anniversary
Mountain Valley Ranch is not only celebrating fall with its annual festive pumpkin patch, but this year the
Owned by the Battaglia family, Mountain Valley Ranch with its tan-colored barn at 842 state Route 78 on the east side of town is a well-known sight for locals as well as out-of-towners.
“Every year we get new customers,” said Joyce Battaglia, who bought the ranch and moved to Ramona with her three children, Markie, Marcus and John James, in 1997.
For the family from Coronado, they found the move to the backcountry therapeutic as it was a year after Joyce’s husband died.
It was a good change for the children after losing their father, said Joyce, whose mother, Twanette Presley, and sister, Janet Mendez, were already living in Ramona.
“We did the planting, weeding, harvesting,” said Markie. “It was good, kind of therapy for us … We jumped right in.”
In addition to the pumpkin patch, the ranch offers hay rides, a corn maze, corn cannon, pony rides, petting zoo, and photo opportunities behind wooden Halloween cut-outs.
“Each year it’s gotten better,” said Joyce, adding, “I don’t want it to be commercialized.”
Visiting the pumpkin patch is free, but there are fees for the pony rides, corn maze and corn cannon.
“We try to keep it reasonable and make it family fun,” said Markie.
Snacks and refreshments are available on the weekends as are the hay rides. Joyce said the hay rides take visitors to the back side of the ranch and to the roping arena.
“We have it all decorated for Halloween,” she said. “They do get the experience of a working ranch.”
The Battaglias sell a variety of home-grown pumpkins and gourds, Indian corn and corn stalks. For the fourth year, Joyce’s cousin, Andy Chavez, has made the trip from Colorado to help out in October.
“I love it,” he said after assisting customers in the barn. “It’s like a little vacation for me.”
Children can see a variety of farm animals at the petting zoo where Babyface steals the show. The Battaglias have had the 1,500-pound buffalo since 2011.
“People stop in just to see Babyface,” said Markie. “He eats a lot of pumpkins. Pumpkins are like candy to animals.”
Also at the petting zoo are a veal calf that the family bought at the Ramona Junior Fair, which they do every year, sheep, a miniature donkey, a horse, turkeys, chickens, peacocks and pigs that are brought in by a friend. Several goats while away their time at the goat maze.
“It’s just a positive environment for everyone. It’s our favorite time of the year,” said Markie.
Halloween isn’t the only holiday the ranch is open to the public. On the day after Thanksgiving the ranch begins selling Christmas trees, wreaths and garland in the barn.
Joyce acknowledged her appreciation of Ranch Manager Dave Sullivan, who has been there 15 years.
“He lives on the ranch. He really runs the ranch,” she said.
The Battaglias’ ranch life goes beyond the holiday events as rodeo is also a part of their lifestyle. Among Markie’s titles are 2003 Miss Rodeo Ramona and 2010 Miss Rodeo California. She now serves as a national director for Miss Rodeo America.
Markie is also an accomplished team roper as is her brother Marcus, who won his first competition when he was 9 years old.
On Friday nights from March through September, Mountain Valley Ranch hosts team roping competitions that are open to the public.
Markie said her family is grateful for the support from Ramona residents.
“They’ve definitely been a big part of our success,” she said.
Mountain Valley Ranch’s pumpkin patch is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. From Monday to Thursday, the ranch is donating 10 percent of sales to the American Cancer Society. For more information, visit mountainvalleyranch.com or call 760-788-8703.
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