Neighbors | Jessica Harker .Metro Park Farms employee Brenda Markley told community members facts about the farm on the way to the pumpkin patch during the Pick a Pumpkin event Oct. 6.
Neighbors | Jessica Harker .Community members walked through a large pumpkin field where they got to choose their own cannon ball sized pumpkin to take home and decorate on Oct. 6.
Neighbors | Jessica Harker .Jessica and Elizabeth Kirtos decorated pumpkins they picked themselves at the Metro Park Farms Oct. 6 for the Pick a Pumpkin event.
Neighbors | Jessica Harker .Community members walked through the pumpkin field planted at the Metro Park Farms to choose thier very own pumpkin to take home Oct. 6.
Neighbors | Jessica Harker .Metro Park Farms employee David helped community members wipe mud off their pumpkins Oct. 6 at the Pick a Pumpkin event.
Neighbors | Jessica Harker .Naturalist Brenda Markley helped community members cut their chosen pumpkins off the vine Oct. 6 at the Pick a Pumpkin event held at Metro Park Farms.
Neighbors | Jessica Harker .James and Emily Kirtos chose from a handful of decorations for the pumpkins they picked at the Metro Park Farms pumpkin patch Oct. 6.
Neighbors | Jessica Harker .Community members used gardening tools to pick their own pumpkins out of the field planted by the Metro Park Farms Oct. 6.
Neighbors | Jessica Harker .Braison helped his mother pick out pumpkins to decorate at the Metro Park Farms Pick a Pumpkin event held Oct. 6.
By JESSICA HARKER
The Mill Creek MetroParks Farms hosted a Pick a Pumpkin event on Oct. 6.
The farms planted a pumpkin patch this year, which they let community members walk through to choose their own cannon ball sized pumpkin to take home.
Brenda Markley, a naturalist at the MetroParks Farms, ran the event with help from David, the MetroParks employee who drove the tractor.
“We love to have people out to the farm to learn about the animals and the things we grow here,” Markley said.
To get to the patch, community members rode a tractor through the farm. Tractor rides were $1 and it was $3 to pick a pumpkin.
“It’s a lot of fun, even being stuck out in the rain people still love it,” Markley said.
During the ride Markley gave facts about the farm and the pumpkins and other plants they grow there.
“We planted our pumpkins a little late this year, so they are actually still growing,” Markley said. “So some are more ready than others to be picked.”
Though it rained during the day, community members were encouraged to walk through the muddy field until they found their perfect pumpkin.
Once they returned to the farm by tractor they were offered stickers to decorate their pumpkins with that were provided by the park. The barns were also open throughout the event for community members to walk through and see all the animals. Tractor rides ran throughout the day from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
“It’s always a good time when we get people out to the farm for the seasonal activities,” Markley said.
For more information about upcoming events at the MetroParks Farms, go to www.millcreekmetroparks.org.