Pumpkin Contest 2024
Seventy-Six 4‐H members brought their pumpkin/gourd work of art to the Pumpkin Contest held at Redden Lodge on October 19. Participants enjoyed a wagon ride, games, costume contest, a haunted house and spending the evening with 4‐H friends. Check out all of the event photos on the Delaware 4-H Flickr page!
Cloverbud Participants who received an orange pumpkin participation ribbon were: Paisley Bonniwell, Jane Carey, Evie Denham, Micah Denham, Madi Hall, Braxton Harmon, Kyle Martin, Allison Mihalik, Isabel Mihalik, Chase Moore, Danny Moore, Crosby Podlaseck, Landyn Short, Rowan Sieber, Jay West, and Klaira Wing
The following participants received a ribbon and division winners received five dollars. Congratulations!
ANIMAL
Young 4-Her – Jayda Plump, Harbor Lights – WINNER
Ribbon Winners: Taylor Melvin, Chase Pusey, and Scotty Crossan
Older 4-Her – Cody Kuhlman, Hollymount – WINNER
Ribbon Winner: Megan Krajewski
CHARACTER
Beginner – Jason Moore, Dublin Hill – WINNER
Ribbon Winners: Owen Jackson, Ethan Martin, Caroline Krajewski, Milo Podlaseck, Silas Akion, and
Eli Wing
Young 4-Her – Faith Absher, Cypress Heart & Hands – WINNER
Ribbon Winners: Harper Holland, Thomas Cunningham, Oliver Podlaseck, and Mark Moore
Older 4-Her – Juliette Anger, Bridgeville Mustangs – WINNER
Ribbon Winners: Declan West, Talia Moutzalias, Embrey Means, Caydance Means, Rebecca Plump, Joel Denham, Claire Denham, and Sophia Pauze
CREATIVE
Beginner – Chloe Sieber, Harbor Lights – WINNER
Ribbon Winners: Porter Bonniwell and Macie Richard
Young 4-Her – Wren Choi, Sunset Branch – WINNER
Ribbon Winners: Emorie Jackson, Scarlet Morton, Claire Pauze, and Scarlett Stazzon
Older 4-Her – Addison Freebery, Hollymount – WINNER
Ribbon Winners: Ainsley West, Ella Marquez, and Belia Crossan
FOOD ITEM
Beginner – Brynn Schutt, Dublin Hill – WINNER
Ribbon Winners: James Melvin, Lillian Platek, and Grayson Short
Young 4-Her – Emma Schutt, Dublin Hill – WINNER
Ribbon Winner: Lucas Marquez, Fisher Low, Sarah Melvin, Andrew Platek, Kaylee Martin, Gabriela Haldeman, and Lily VanVorst
Older 4-Her – Abby VanVorst – WINNER
SPOOKY
Beginner – Phillip Cunningham, Harbor Lights – WINNER
Ribbon Winners: West Choi and Ava Ritter
Young 4-Her – Talen Jester, Bridgeville Mustangs – WINNER
Ribbon Winners: Julia Freebery and Alexa Crossan
Older 4-Her – Zipporah Rolph, Seaford Blue Jays – WINNER
Ribbon Winner: Janet Shultie
CARVED
Older 4-Her – Tori Smith, Milford – WINNER
Ribbon Winner: Hanna Holland
ADULT CREATIVE
Amy Hale, Bridgeville Mustangs – WINNER
The Pumpkin Contest is sponsored by the Sussex Order of Links. Special thanks to: Amy West, Gina Anger, Susan DeFord, Kim Elliott, Cristine Eskridge, Jodie Gravenor, Amy Hale, Amy Kuhlman, Heather Marquez, Melissa Mitchell, Daniel Tull, and Carol Warren; Hay Ride: Wesley DeFord, Dave Mitchell, Joe West and Bo Waller; Pumpkin Placing Helpers: Embrey Means, Janet Shultie, Emorie Jackson, and Julia Freebery; Games: Dublin Hill, Eskridge Family, Hollymount, Lord Baltimore, Sunset Branch, Sycamore, and Sussex Links.
Special Thanks to those who helped sponsor this event! BJ’s Wholesale Club, East Coast Family Foods, Grotto Pizza, Hense Family, Hukill Family, Passwaters Landscaping, Pepsi Co., Redners, and the Warren Family
NEW! Costume Contest
This was a hit with members and adults alike as we had 60 people participate! There were lots of creative costumes for all to see! Congratulations to all participants! The winners of each category received a Pumpkin themed beanie!
Cloverbud – Evie Denham, Hollymount – WINNER
Participants: Jane Carey, Danny Moore, Isabel Mihalik, Allison Mihalik, Braxton Harmon, Charlotte Holsten-Craft, Silas Akion, Chase Moore, Madi Hall, Micah Denham, and Jay West
Youth (ages 8-12) – Scarlett Stazzone, Hollymount – WINNER
Participants: Owen Jackson, Scarlett Morton, Chloe Sieber, Wren Choi, West Choi, Julia Feebery, Fisher Low, James Melvin, Taylor Melvin, Lillian Platek, Andrew Platek, Kayden Henson, Kyree Muse, Brooklyn Wegner, Brynn Schutt, Lexi Crossan, Mark Moore, Jason Moore, Caroline Krajewski, Ava Ritter, Jayda Plump, and Macie Richard
Teen (ages 13-18) – Embrey Means, Seaford Blue Jays – WINNER
Participant: Hannah Ritter
Adult – Kim Elliott, Clover Knights – WINNER
Participants: Amy Kuhlman and Kate Krajewski
Group – Faith Absher & Mrs. Absher – WINNER
Particpants: Podlaseck Family, Short Family, Wegner Family and Crossan Family.
Haunted House – Realtor Style
4‐H families were “perspective homeowners” walking through houses with their creepy realtors to see what life with their new neighbors might be like. Special thanks to the Junior Council members for planning, organizing and providing this scary production and to Cheri Carpenter for supervising the event. Great job: Juliette Anger, Cole Carpenter, Claire Denham, Joel Denham, Ruby DiSabatino, Keira Fletcher, Addison Freebery, Cameron Hale, Ella Marquez, Caydance Means, Talia Moutzalias, Sophia Pauze, Abby VanVorst, Ainsley West, and Declan West.
Fall Retreat:
24 campers set up camp at Redden Lodge immediately following the Pumpkin Contest. The Great Pumpkin, Ainsley West, greeted campers and icebreaker games began! Bats, Jack o Lanterns, Cats and Ghosts groups learned teamwork and had fun playing new games. After reviewing camp rules, the groups enjoyed the making s’mores and campfire songs. The group then prepared for lights out. On Sunday, everyone was ready for the delicious breakfast. Group leaders reviewed activities of the day and classes began. The campers made a leaf suncatcher craft, birdfeeders and took a hike to collect and learn about different types of leaves. The group also played a short game before their parents arrived! The members had a weekend of 4‐H fun, fellowship and new friends! Special thanks to the wonderful counselors and chaperones for volunteering their time to provide this annual 4‐H event which is sponsored by the Sussex Leaders Association. Event Chairpersons/Chaperones: Melissa Mitchell and Dana Probert; Counselors: Ainsley West, Juliette Anger, Cole Carpenter, Keira Fletcher, Addison Freebery, Cameron Hale, Demetreus Moutzalias, Talia Moutzalias, Abby VanVorst, and Declan West. Chaperones: Leah Vincent, Dave Mitchell, Aaron Jackson, and Jill Jackson.
