Last weekend my family and I flew up to Portland to visit Roloff Farms. We lucked out with beautiful weather and some amazing scenery up in Portland this time of year. The mix of evergreens with splashes of red, gold, and orange from seasonal trees was quite the show from mother nature.

We spent almost the entire day Saturday (Oct 10th) at Roloff Farms. One thing that surprised me was just how close to the city of Portland the farm is. From watching the show, the surroundings seemed to indicate they were in a rural farm area … maybe an hour outside the city. However, the farm is actually only about 20 miles from downtown Portland. We were driving along the freeway, when the landscape switched pretty abruptly from urban to open fields and a more rural feeling. The Roloffs actually live in Helvetia, a suburb of Portland.

After reaching the farm, we all picked up a Roloff Farms sweatshirt or t-shirt from their gift shop. They were selling all sorts of stuff such as water bottles, key rings, Roloff Farms dirt in a jar, family pictures, coffee mugs, sweatshirts, t-shirts, Little People Big World DVD’s, Matt’s book “Against Tall Odds”, magnets, fleeces … all sorts of souvenirs!

We then bought a combo ticket to go on both rides for $10/person (it was $6 separate if you only wanted to go on one). One ride was a scenic tour of the entire farm, the other was a ride out to Western Town where we got to get off the trailer and tour the town for about 5 minutes. The one thought that kept coming back to me as we toured the property was just how nice everything looked. It was quite an amazing piece of land, and all of Matt’s projects, along with all the landscaping really made it something special. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t just a tad bit jealous by the time we left

The day we were there, a TLC crew was there filming the show. The topic? Matt organized a contest - a fort building competition between three teams of local kids. They were all building their forts as we toured the farm, and the cameras were rolling. You can see the crew in some of the pics we took.

We saw everyone in the family except Molly, who we were told by Papa and Honey (the grandparents) at Western Town that we had JUST missed her by 5 minutes - she had to cut out to attend a surprise birthday party. We actually met and got to talk with both Amy and Jeremy. Amy was super friendly, so was Jeremy. It actually surprised me a bit just how down to earth they all were. Jeremy had more than a few girls swooning over him.

All in all it was a very fun trip. The farm was everything we had hoped it would be, and more. If you’ve ever considered going, I’d highly recommend it. Our entire family loved it. Thanks Roloffs for letting us visit your farm

You can view the hundreds of pictures we took at the farm below. Enjoy!!

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Get ready all you Little People Big World fans!!

Matt sent out an email today reminding everyone that season 5 starts tonight. For anyone who hasn’t made it out to the farm yet this year, they will be showing Molly’s Castle completed. Make sure to set your DVR’s accordingly

You can read Matt’s email below.

Hi Everyone…

What a crazy time of year. How exciting to have our season premiere at the same time as our best pumpkin season ever! I am so thrilled to be showing off the new and completed Molly’s castle (FINALLY)! Does Amy kill me for my budget overruns? You’ll have to tune in tonight to see…

We hope you’ll join us as we continue to share of life journey with 20 new episodes this fall. This season promises to be packed with even more intimate and unforgettable moments than ever before.

All the Best,
Matt

The Little People, Big World two-part holiday special airs tonight (12/15) on TLC @ 8/7c and 8:30/7:30c

In the second episode airing at 8:30/7:30c, Matt and the kids set about building Amy the ultimate Mother’s Day gift — a gazebo to watch the sunset.

A little while back, we were lucky enough to be contacted by TLC with the opportunity to interview Amy. Obviously, we jumped at the chance, and tried to assemble a list of questions that fans of the show would want to know. In fact, a few of the questions came from the terms and phrases we find in our web traffic logs - in other words, the phrases people type in to search engines that leads them to this site.

We want to thank TLC for the opportunity, and give a special thanks to Amy for her time in answering our questions despite her busy schedule. Below is the interview. Enjoy

RO: How did your family first come in contact with TLC, and what factors were involved in making the show a regular series after the initial special ran on air?

AR: A producer approached us about the possibility of doing a special about our family. The ratings seemed to be good enough for the possibility of a show and our family had enough dynamics to be interesting and have a variety of personalities. Lo and behold 3 - 6 episodes has turned into shows and filming for our 4th season. We are grateful and honored that so many people have liked and enjoyed watching it.

RO: You’re originally from Michigan, and Matt talks about how he was raised in California. So what made you guys settle down in Oregon?

AR: I am from Michigan and Matt is from California. We met in Michigan, got married and I moved to California. There was a job opportunity for Matt in Oregon and I was pregnant with twins. We consider the job opportunity and raising a family, having more kids and Oregon seemed like a wonderful place to do that.

RO: I seem to remember in one episode where Matt had to deal with upset neighbors who felt like you were damaging the farm community with “agritainment”. How is your relationship with your neighbors now that the farm has taken off and the show has become such a big hit?

AR: Our neighbors I think have gotten used to the fact that we are not going anywhere and what we wanted to and have done wasn’t directly affecting them so they have for the most part left us alone. We are grateful that we have been able to grow pumpkins, the work and time Matt and us have put into it has paid off, lots of people and families have had a great time, a fun experience and our pumpkin business will still be here even though TV may not or change. They have adjusted and some of them have come around and think we are doing ok for the farm community and community around us.

RO: What goes into filming an episode? Do you sit down with TLC producers and come up with themes/ideas for the show? How long is the crew at your home? Do they show up every day for a certain time period, or are they free to come and go as they like?

AR: We pretty much just live our life and the tv crew follows along. Obviously most of the filming is filmed at our house/farm, after the kids are out of school for the day, during the summer, and when we go on vacation or have special things go on that we are a part of. Sometimes Matt will come up with special projects he may have normally thought of but since we are filming for tv he will make the projects around the farm happen more than not happen. The producers will meet with us to find out what we are doing in our day, week, month and plan for themselves accordingly. We may do extra things around something we have already planned and Matt will make it a little more extra. He is creative and convincing. The crew is at our house Wed. - Sunday and most recently just Thurs. - Sunday. Our weekend is Mon and Tues. They just don’t show up whenever they feel like it they to do have a schedule. It works because we have a great crew and wonderful and great producers that are here with us.

RO: One thing I think a lot of fans like about the show is the “real” factor. It feels like we are seeing the family up close and personal without any front. Do you feel like what we see of you on the show is a pretty good depiction of life around the Roloff home even when the cameras aren’t rolling?

AR: What you see is pretty much the real Roloff Family. It’s just us trying to love, live life as a family. However, you have to remember you are seeing a glimpse of us. They couldn’t even begin to include everything in an episode. A lot of times we know the before and after but you see the moment in between. You see bits and pieces of our life but don’t assume you know and have seen everything. They will put bits and pieces that are similar together to make an episode also. It is tv. Sometimes there are events, things said that we wish weren’t on the show and other times the cameras aren’t just there to show the things we wish did get on the show. It’s about a family trying to be the best they can experiencing life - with a disability, a dwarf child, average size children, and so on and so on.

RO: How is your life different now compared to before the show? Do you consider yourself a celebrity? Do you get stopped for autographs and/or pictures a lot?

AR: I consider our life different just by the experience of being on tv and having our own show. Instead of being looked upon as being so different or someone that somebody else can not relate to (Zach made fun of or whispers my kids hear others say about us, cruel derogatory things) is that them, the family on tv, I can so relate to them, and being maybe just more like them. I don’t sense that being a little person is so foreign to a lot of people anymore and that is good. Yes, we get recognized all of the time and asked for autographs/pictures. We appreciate that people are watching the show and we appreciate meeting so many people. It is still hard for Molly and Jacob with all of the attention but it just comes with being on tv. I/we really don’t think of myself/ourselves as a celebrity. Just someone and a family that in the long run has had a great opportunity and experience and if we were able to open up others perception about seeing a dwarf, a little person as more positive then it was well worth the exposure of our personal lives. The one thing I have now realized about our show and appreciate is that it crosses every economic, culture, race, disability boundaries. It’s a good show for anyone to be able to watch it.

RO: With your kids growing up, and the show allegedly winding down, what’s next for you and Matt? Any plans for a spin-off show? Any big travel plans? Will you continue giving your motivational speeches?

AR: With the kids growing up sure, the tv show will change or eventually end as a complete Roloff family LPBW. Who knows you may see some of us do something else within the media. As for travel, I have always wanted to do that since graduating from HS but marriage, family, life changes and so does that dream. Now that the kids are growing up, the twin boys will begin to venture out on their own I will continue to always be an involved mom, but I’m starting to maybe think about travel more and see different places and meet some wonderful people all over this wonderful country but also realize the opportunity of teaching, learning, and experiencing with each other. It opens up your world and seeing it from a disability perspective gives you a different insight too. Yes, Matt and I will continue to do motivational speeches as long as different venues are interested. We still have a lot more to offer and to give in that area.

Ep. 11 “Matt Wants Surveillance for House”

Ep. 11 “Kids Spill Water On New Carpet”

Ep. 11 “Mattress Shopping”

In the second episode airing at 8:30/7:30c, the Roloffs pack up and head to Orlando, FL to escape the stress of the remodel — my favorite is when Amy dances on the table

Ep. 12 “Roloff Florida Vacation”

Ep. 12 “Amy goes wild”

Ep. 12 “Amy Catches a Gator”

Later, while watching Zach play soccer, Amy talks about how she learns from his determination — but the mood quickly changes when Zach gets hurt on the field:

Space is limited in the house due to the remodel — so in the second episode airing at 8:30/7:30c, Molly and Jacob take their sibling scuffle wherever they find room:

Later in the episode random sheep wander onto the Roloff’s property and a wild chase breaks out to ward them off. Tough mom Amy, however, is unfazed:

Viking Pools, who installed the new pool at the Roloff home, posted a portfolio of their work up on flickr. The photos are meant to showcase the pool, but a few of the pics show the new, remodeled home in the background. I’ve gotta say the new pool and home are beautiful, and flow together very nicely.

You can view the full album here, or view several of the photos that show the home below.

Congratulations Roloffs on a beautiful home!

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• The new season of the show will feature a number of trips to far away places.
• The farm is now open for Pumpkin season. It goes from September 27 - October 28.
• The farm has a few new attractions for visitors.
• Zach & Jeremy are now seniors in high school.
• Molly just took her driver’s permit test.
• Jacob is now in middle school, and playing soccer.
• Amy continues to book speeches and public appearances, and is traveling a lot.

You can read the newsletter in full by following the link below.

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The Roloffs sent out a letter today informing their fans and loved ones that their good friend Mike Detjen has passed away due to complications with a torn aorta. You can read the full letter below.

As you all know, Mike was a close friend of the Roloffs. At times on the show, he seemed more like a family member than a friend. We would all be lucky to have a friend as good as Mike was. He will be missed be greatly by both his fans and his loved ones. God be with you and your family till we meet again Mike.

Friends,

Yesterday afternoon, as I finished up the summer newsletter and set it to be sent out this morning, I had no idea I would be announcing such tragic news several hours later.

It is with the deepest sadness and devastation that we must inform our friends and fans of the passing of our extended family member, Mike Detjen.

For the past eight years Mike has been a business partner, brother, coach, friend, and confidant. He was truly like an uncle to our kids.

It was with complete and sudden surprise last evening when Mike was rushed to the hospital from his soccer club board meeting. At the time, it was believed he was having a heart attack.

Amy and all our kids rushed to the hospital to be by his side. Coherent and alert, Mike was rushed into emergency surgery for a torn aorta.

An aortic dissection is very serious, but the prognosis was that they would be able to repair the rupture in the 5+ hour operation.

Unfortunately, Mike did not make it through the procedure.

Mike passed with many loved ones and friends that cared deeply for him. We especially extend our condolences to Mike’s family. Our kids are all devastated and beside themselves with grief. We will miss Mike dearly as a friend and loved one.

We celebrate Mike’s life as one of compassion and service to those he cared about. He was the driving force behind the area soccer club. He dedicated countless hours and his personal resources to his love of soccer and the local kids that enjoyed it. Mike not only taught my kids to play but how to love the game and practice good sportsmanship as well.

Mike was a deeply faithful man, and though we mourn his loss, we take solace in the knowledge that he has gone to his heavenly home.

Condolences may be sent to kaitlin@mattroloff.com. We will be gathering the responses to give to Mike’s sons, Tim and Jason Detjen. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the organization Mike was the most passionate about, the Hillsboro Soccer Club.

Hillsboro Soccer Club
2074 NW Alocleck Dr., Suite 415
Hillsboro, OR 97124

We are in the process of setting up a donation fund through PayPal. You should be able to give online through our website in the next couple of days.

Thank you for sharing our grief and sorrow in this time of earthly heartache.

Sincerely,
Matt, Amy, Zach, Jeremy, Molly, and Jacob