In 2023, the Hagen History Center planted its first batch of sunflowers in a two-acre plot behind the Battles Estate in Girard.

Seeing its beauty, the center’s CEO said he wanted to plant more sunflowers to cover the entire field but just needed a buyer to make the project feasible.

That’s where the Wilds Sonshine Factory came in, a McKean County distillery who agreed to buy the sunflower seeds and turn them into something special.

This summer, the vision finally became a reality, and the field on Walnut Street was covered with acres of yellow, drawing thousands of visitors.

“The attendance exceeded our wildest dreams. We had metrics in place and our conservative numbers say that we had over 20,000 visitors over a two-week period here in Girard taking pictures and enjoying the field,”

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