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A Billingsley elementary student finds his perfect pumpkin. (JOYANNA LOVE/ ADVERTISER)

Verbena elementary students learn about milking a cow at Penton Farms Pumpkin Patch. (JOYANNA LOVE/ ADVERTISER)

Verbena elementary students have fun at Penton Farms Pumpkin Patch.( JOYANNA LOVE/ ADVERTISER)

By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Fields of pumpkins of a variety of shapes and sizes at Penton Farms Pumpkin Patch were full of excited children searching under green leaves for the perfect pumpkin to take home on Oct. 4.

Jilliyan Crichton, a third-grade student at Verbena High, said originally she was looking for “a big, orange pumpkin” but decided to go with a “big, white pumpkin” once she found one in the field.

Out of all the activities the students enjoyed during their visit, Jilliyan said finding the pumpkin was her favorite part.

She also enjoyed feeding the goats at the animal barn.

Jon Carlial Granodos, a third-grade student, also said “trying to find a pumpkin” was his favorite activity. He said he was looking for a big one and was not particular about the color.

While at Penton Farms, students were able to play in a corn pit, slide on mega slides, enjoy the swings and learn about animals and agriculture.

Students learned about chickens and the variety of the colors of their eggs. Students also fed goats, saw a potbellied pig and a cow at the animal barn.

Agriculture was highlighted through an activity where students dug in sand for potatoes and harvested fruit made from cloth.

VHS teacher Hailey McCary said it was her second time bringing a class to the pumpkin patch.

She said the field trip allows her students “to see the different things that Verbena has — the farm, the pumpkin and learn about the animal life and how things grow.”

The trip connects to what her third-grade students have been learning in the classroom.

“We are learning about living and nonliving things,” McCary said. “This connects with our science standards.”

When she got to the pumpkin patch, McCary was looking for a small white pumpkin suitable for painting.

“We paint pumpkins every year with my niece,” McCary said.

Penton Farms Pumpkin Patch is open to the public Monday-Friday 1-5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (Closed on Sunday.) For more information, visit pentonfarms.com/pumpkin-patch.html.

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