Sunday, November 4, 2007
8-6
Carving, Decorating, or Eating: It's a Pumpkin Extravaganza.
Derek Husmoen, UW River Falls Crops & Soils Club, 1024 East Cascade Avenue, River Falls, WI 54022
For a countless number of years, the Crops and Soils Club at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls has been selling pumpkins as an annual fundraiser. This money-making opportunity for the club benefits not only the campus, but the community of River Falls as well. In May, the pumpkins are planted, along with Indian corn and gourds, on one of the University’s lab farms. Throughout the summer, the plots are weeded and monitored by workers at the farm. When school resumes in the fall, the pumpkins, Indian corn, and gourds are harvested onto a flatbed trailer. The trailer is set up on the lawn of the Student Union and students stop by between classes to purchase pumpkins that will typically decorate their dorm room. Faculty and staff, who seasonally ask when the club is going to start selling pumpkins each fall, frequently purchase pumpkins, Indian corn, and gourds as well. For years where there is a surplus of pumpkins, an additional wagon is set-up at the lab farm on the edge of town for community members to purchase some ornamental pumpkins. This yearly fundraiser provides members with an opportunity to become active in the club and to help promote agriculture and agronomy around campus. Whether it is one that will fit in the palm of the hand or one that requires two people to carry, our customers always find a creative way to make use of their pumpkins.