By Ashley McMillan

It was Papa's Pumpkin Patch in the fall, but with the ground frozen and all of the snow that's fallen,the pumpkin patch has literally transformed into a polar patch.

Papa's Polar Patch is in its second year but this year they're doing something a little differently.

Reporter Ashley McMillan was at the polar patch today with Papa to find out what's going on.

"Sure enough it was clear enough at six this morning and its been nice all day. tomorrow will be glorious."


After last nights snow fall and the road conditions David Pearce wasn't sure how opening day was going to pan out at Papa's Polar Patch

But by 3 this afternoon around 300 people had already been through the bales.

"Last year was fun we barely had enough snow to have a polar patch and this year my gracious we are inundated with snow. We told everybody at the pumpkin patch to pray for snow, it'll be a great polar patch and well I think the cities been praying."


It may only be the second year of the polar patch, but new ideas are always welcome.

"It was sort of sparked by a bank in Fargo that did what we thought was just a marvelous thing with their employees. THey made a huge sum of money I think it was $500,000 last year available to all the employees in the bank."


State Bank and Trust of Fargo used a concept from the movie pay it forward

Employees were given a lump sum and asked to pay it forward to an organization or a person they thought were in need in the Fargo Community

Papa's Polar patch is trying to do the same thing.

"Papa's Polar Patch pays it Forward and so we're asking our guests and the patrons that come and join us to fill out a little slip for us that says papa should pay it forward to... There are plenty of needs, there are plenty of organizations that need additional cash this year because of the economy. "


At the end of the season Papa's Polar patch will divide up the money and pay it forward to different organizations throughout Bismarck and Mandan

and under the title this time, we're going to call it Papa Pays it forward and so the folks, friends and families who come out here are going to decide who it's paid forward to.

PaPa's Polar Patch is open different weekends throughout the winter.

For those dates you can log onto their website, www.papaspolarpatch.com watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list