The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Pumpkin Patch Fun Fest offers child-friendly activities
A young boy’s pumpkin patch to earn money evolved into an eighth annual Schuster’s Pumpkin Patch Fun Fest with hayrides and family activities.
The Fun Fest continues from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 11 at Donald A. Schuster Greenhouse, 8638 Murray Ridge Road, Elyria.
On Oct. 10 Zoe Schuster, 2, wore a pumpkin costume and visited animals in a petting zoo with her mother, Samantha Schuster.
One-year-old Roy Evans posed for photographs with his 5-yearold sister, Yasmyn Evans, and mother, Mandy Evans, Avon.
“I used to live in Elyria,” Evans said. “We saw the advertisement for this, and me and their dad always come to this. And of course it’s (Roy’s) first time at the pumpkin patch and he has to pick a pumpkin.”
Yvonne Penson, Elyria, also a Schuster, bought raffle tickets for a good cause.
Penson’s favorite part was enjoying the festival with family and friends and supporting a fundraiser for cancer patients in need.
“A couple of my friends are survivors,” Penson said. “And I’m on a Relay for Life University Hospitals team. I go every year to sponsor them.”
Under a canopy, antique engines chugged gently as Jared Schuster, 23, his father, Ed Schuster, 57, Ed’s brother-in-law Tony Andrusyszyn, 46, and Don Warden adjusted a pulley.
Powered by an engine, the pulley turned a shaft that operated three other machines: a knife sharpening wheel, a chicken plucker and a water pump.
A 1914 Maytag engine at one time operated a washing machine, Andrusyszyn said, and a 1913 engine sheared sheep.
The men belong to a LaGrange Engine Club, which held a large show several weeks ago at the Lorain County Fairgrounds, they said. For information about the club visit www.lagrangeengineclub.com.
“Anybody can buy a piece of equipment and go to the show and show it,” Ed Schuster said. “That’s the third weekend of September. You go to the mall, you don’t talk to anybody. You go to one of these shows, and you will talk to 100 people. You meet people.”
“That stuff is from way before my time,” Andrusyszyn said, “but it’s fun.”
The Schuster’s Pumpkin Patch Fun Fest includes hayrides for $4 a person.
“They go through the farm,” Andrusyszyn said. “We set up little stations — all the things out of children’s books — three men in a tub; Little Bo Peep. We tried not to scare anybody, but there’s a corny graveyard that’s more funny than anything. There’s a petting zoo with goats and chickens and rabbits. We made apple butter this morning. There’s a clown with balloon animals, and a craft show, and of course the traditional pumpkin patch for everybody to get everything they need for decorating.”
For the event, different talents emerged. Chuck Schuster made salsa. Steve Schuster baked pies. Andrusyszyn’s wife hosted a food stand with hot dogs and snacks. For information call 440-322-0613.