(PHOTOS BY BREANA RELIFORD / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
GIRLS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS … Kiera Waldvogel, Lucy Mendoza, and Kynzie Rice. VIEW PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
ELEMENTARY DODGEBALL CHAMPIONS … Lucas Maldonado, Ames Genter, Alec Genter, Carter Rychener, Grace Ripke, Landri Rufenacht.
By: Breana Reliford
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
Hosted by the Pettisville FFA Alumni and Friends, the community of Pettisville gathered together on October 4, 2024, to celebrate the arrival of fall with their annual Great Pumpkin Festival.
The event took place at Pettisville High School and featured several different activities. From dinner to dodgeball, there was something for everyone to enjoy.
The event kicked off with dinner from 4:30-6:30 with a selection of sausage sandwiches, hotdogs, fall harvest soup, chili, pumpkin ice cream, and more. During the dinner, silent auctions took place and many donated gift baskets, gift cards, t-shirts, and more were available for bidding.
At 5:15, the 3-on-3 basketball tournament for students began, with dodgeball to follow. At 7:00, the live auction started for those wanting to bid on the larger prizes.
Students and staff decorated the school from top to bottom with pumpkins, fall foliage, photo booths, fall-themed games, face painting, and even a bounce house. There were plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy.
The art classes at Pettisville Local Schools also had a chance to show off their pumpkin painting and carving skills, as well as creative fall displays. Winners included:
Creative Fall Displays: 1st – Jessie Aeschliman, 2nd – Lucy Mendoza, 3rd – Jenae Lammers
Painted Pumpkins: 1st – Ellory Miller, 2nd: Karen Lugbill, 3rd – Elaina Lugbill
Carved Pumpkins: 1st – Phil King, 2nd – Finnlee Boulton
6 Years Old & Under: 1st – Traver Boulton, 2nd – Ellis Johnson, 3rd: Kate York
8th Grade Art: 1st – Bryelle Manyard, 2nd – Locke Boulton, 3rd – Caitlyn Helberg
Visual Art: 1st – Alissa VanDenBerghe, 2nd: Kendal Davis, 3rd – Ben Nagel
Intermediate Visual Art: 1st – Sammy Minchella, 2nd – Sophia Loar, 3rd – Kelyera Dietrich
Advanced Visual Art: 1st – Echo Eash, 2nd: Madalyn Westrick, 3rd: Tara Crossgrove
A highly competitive tournament of 3-on-3 basketball was held with 7th graders Keira Waldvogel, Kynzie Rice, and Lucy Mendoza coming out on top.
Theo Jimenez, Landon Clark, and Grant Boyers were the boys’ team champions, also in 7th grade. In a final match between the top girls’ team and the top boys’ team, the girls’ pulled out the overall win.
The elementary dodgeball winners were Carter Rychener, Ames Genter, Alec Genter, Grace Ripke, Landri Rufenacht, and Lucas Maldonado.
The festival had a huge turnout and was a great success for the FFA department and will be a tradition carried on for many years.