Rockwall Pumpkin Patch closes after 25 years

Student volunteers help make Rockwall tradition a success

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(ROCKWALL – October 20, 2013) The first truckload of pumpkins arrived two days before the Grand Opening of Rockwall’s Original Pumpkin Patch. The large tent was set up and the pallets arranged waiting for the pumpkins.

Pumpkin Patch committee member Sandy Barrow has contacts with the Rockwall and Royse City ISD high schools. She recruits dozens of eager students who need to earn volunteer service hours. Organizers depend heavily on students to help with the demanding physical job of unloading the produce.

This year’s 48 volunteers included students from Interact, National Charity League, National Honor Society, RHHS and RHS Student Councils, PALS, senior hours, and Boy Scouts of America. Our Lady of the Lake and theChurchofJesus Christ Latter Day Saintswere represented by youth from their congregations.

Volunteer Dean Cuzick expertly handled a forklift to move bins of pumpkins from the back of an 18-wheeler. His wife Stacy directed him with practiced hand signals as he placed the bins in the perfect spot.

Then the students descended on the bins and began a carefully choreographed routine of passing the pumpkins down a line where they were finally placed on the pallets. Inside the tent, other student volunteers helped stock displays with gourds, squash, Indian corn and homemade deli items.

In a surprisingly short time, the truck was unloaded, the cardboard cartons emptied, flattened and prepared for recycling. Merchandise was placed in the tent ready for the price tags.

The Pumpkin Patch is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Thursday, October 31 at1201 Ridge Roadin theRidgeRoadShopping Center. But sadly, this is the final year for the Rockwall tradition that has spanned 25 years.

“After much thought and discussion, the Steering Committee voted to recommend to each of the sponsoring groups that this be the last year. I assure you it was not a decision made lightly or in haste,” said Kathleen Broze, chair of this year’s leadership team.

She cited several factors that contributed to the decision, including the effect of droughts and floods on price and availability of produce. “The work intensive nature of the Pumpkin Patch, coupled with a 40% decrease in profits over the past several years, no longer makes the best use of our fundraising volunteers.”

The story of how the Pumpkin Patch came to be is almost a Rockwall legend. According to local lore, a yardman overheard a discussion about fundraising projects between longtime friends Claudette Hatfield and Claudette Johnson. He told them a friend inMuleshoe,TXexpected a bumper pumpkin crop and had no market. The two women decided to try selling pumpkins and divide the profits between Friends of the Library and Council of Catholic Women.

And as most anecdotes go, “the rest is history.”  From 1989 through 2013, local volunteers of almost every age group have turned out to work at the Pumpkin Patch.

There is still time left to pick the perfect pumpkin and take advantage of the milestone photo opportunity. An exciting lineup of children’s activities is scheduled for this Saturday. Admission is free. Visit rockwallpumpkinpatch.com for more details. Also, see the website for a list of fixtures and supplies that will be sold.

This is an edited version of several articles by Nell Wellborn.

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