The search for the perfect pumpkin

Students share plans for pumpkins

MOSES LAKE - As about 100 children were set loose to pick pumpkins at Tom and Joan Dopps' patch on Friday, teachers and parents called out advice and instructions.

The adults' main directive? Don't pick a pumpkin larger than you can carry.

The instructions weren't lost on all of the second-grade students from Moses Lake's Peninsula Elementary who canvassed the patch.

Even so, some kids started hefting and lugging pumpkins proving too heavy to manage.

So rolling pumpkins back to the bus was another method used by a few students.

During class weigh-ins, it was later learned the pumpkins weighed between 9 pounds to 22 pounds, Joan Dopps said. She is also a second-grade teacher at Peninsula Elementary.

Some children struggled to fit their pumpkins into plastic shopping sacks.

And a few kids, like Marques Jones, 8, worked to shove his pumpkin into a backpack and zip it up.

Oleg Savonin, 8, said he will probably make a pie with his new pumpkin.

"It's my first time in my life coming to the pumpkin patch," Oleg said.

Parent Angela Alvarez went on the trip with her daughters Angie, 7, and Amy, 1, who found a tiny pumpkin to hold in her hand.

The trip to the patch was Angela's first, she said.

Angela raved about the scenery, calling it beautiful. She also said it was awesome to see all the kids.

Dulce Martinez, 7, said she plans to make a jack-o-lantern with her pumpkin.

Walking through the field and picking a pumpkin took all of about 20 minutes for the group.

After the rush of finding and retrieving pumpkins was over, the students walked over to the lawn near the Dopps' home and sat down.

Some groups sat still for a few minutes holding their pumpkins while their parents took their photos on the farm.

Joan Dopps showed students her son's kitten and allowed them to pet the animal.

The pumpkin patch belongs to Joan and her husband Tom.

The couple's son Derek, 17, also helps with the project, Joan said.

The project started 21 years ago and it began with Joan bringing pumpkins to her class, she said. The project expanded to include all of the second-grade classes at Peninsula Elementary. The trip ties into class lessons about agriculture, social studies and math, she explained.

Peninsula's Parent Teacher Organization now pays transportation costs for the trip, she said. Joan acknowledged PTO President Jackie Bartunek for her support of the project.

Pasco-based Logan Zenner Seeds Inc. helped by giving the Dopps 10 percent off pumpkin seeds, Joan said.

Pumpkins were transplanted from Qualls Ag Labs in Mae Valley to the Dopps' field to provide a wide selection, Joan noted.

Peninsula school counselor Debbie Horney also went on the trip.

"It's just a fun thing," Horney said. "It's really neat she (Joan) does this."