Tracy High Schools FFA students recently held their annual pumpkin patch event, welcoming local kindergarteners for a day of hands-on fun.
On October 17th, 2024, kindergarteners from several local schools were invited to the pumpkin patch, which is entirely run by Tracy High’s FFA students and teachers. The event featured fun games such as mini golf, a mini hay maze, and plenty of pumpkins for the students get to take home.
“Seeing all the little kids run around and have so much fun has been such a rewarding experience” said senior and FFA member Adriana Easley, who was working the bean bag toss. “My favorite part was working the bean bag toss and watching their excitement when they would make it in the hole and get a piece of candy,” Easley said.
The setup process for the pumpkin patch was well-organized, with FFA students meeting three times before school in FFA teacher Ms. Huerta’s class to plan out the events. After discussing the logistics, students took the initiative to gather the necessary materials and set up their stations independently.
“Each student was responsible for their own station, making sure they had everything needed to run their activities smoothly,” said Mr. Rooney, an Ag teacher. “It was a great way to practice responsibility.”
Mr. Rooney also expressed his pride in his students’ efforts. “What I hope my students take away from this experience is not just the technical skills, but also the importance of working with kids, developing social skills, and giving back to their community.”
Catherine Earnberg, a kindergarten teacher from Saint Bernard’s, has attended the Tracy High pumpkin patch for the past three years. She praised the event for its unique blend of education and agriculture, which allowed her students to engage with high schoolers and learn about farming in an interactive way.
“I love that it’s run by High School students,” Earnberg said. “The kindergartners get to see the older students in action, and that representation really inspires them and gets them excited for high school.”
The pumpkin patch event has become an important part of the Tracy High community, bringing together students to celebrate not only Halloween but agriculture and local farming.
