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| Aroostook Republican photo/Mark Putnam It was controlled chaos Thursday at Hilltop Elementary School as students, staff, family members and others took it outside for the annual Harvest Hoedown — a fun-filled afternoon of activities intended to showcase Caribou’s rich agricultural heritage. Taking part in the hay bale obstacle course are, from left, Brenna Fox, Sofia Fleury-Mendible and Dominic Miller, under the watchful eye of volunteer Jamie Martin. |
By Mark Putnam
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Students spilled out of their classrooms early Thursday and into the field behind Hilltop Elementary School to celebrate a new school year with family and friends. The occasion was Harvest Hoedown, a longstanding tradition at the Caribou school, which draws inspiration and energy from the region’s rich agricultural heritage and fun and games connected to the community’s deep rural roots.
Stations, especially intended to educate and entertain, were set up behind the school, each based on a harvest-related theme. They included, among others, potato picking, an apple cider press, pumpkin painting, looking for treasure in the leaf pile, a hay bale ridden obstacle course and food and music that reinforced the agricultural theme.
“The Hoedown came from a desire to celebrate our harvest tradition,” said first-grade teacher Marty Belanger, who organized this year’s event. “We also wanted to invite parents to come to school early in the year to participate in a fun activity.” Unfortunately, she added, there are fewer family farms in 2013 than when the parents and teachers were young.
With help from Hilltop staff and extra volunteers from the Caribou Wellness Center, high school girls varsity soccer team, Maine Agri-Women and others, this year’s event drew several hundred participants and left many smiles and rosy cheeks on adults and kids alike.
“I saw lots of happy faces and heard exclamations of excitement, but also just visiting amongst friends and neighbors — part of our goal is to build school/community relationships,” Belanger said.
She thanked teachers who helped with pre-teaching, supervision and cleanup, as well as school cooks who baked up potatoes from Bouchard Farms for everyone to sample.
Belanger was pleased with this year’s Harvest Hoedown and looks forward to many more. “We tried to include activities for the children that would be fun, active, and be outside!”
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| Bringing her stylish touch to the potato field at Hilltop School was Ava Finelli. | Nolan Coon brought his work gloves to school for Harvest Hoedown. They were especially useful in the potato picking section. | Potato picker Caleb Kuklak empties his basket into a kid-sized potato barrel. |
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| Caribou High School freshman Emma Belyea helped out at the face-painting station. Putting a design and a satisfied smile on student Hannah Willey-Forbes. |
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| Under the watchful eye of Harvest Hoedown volunteer Kathy Mazzuchelli, students Alex Belanger, left, and Dylan Bouchard took turns turning the hand-crank on the apple cider press. |
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| From left, Nate Taggart, Blake Rafford and Matthew Pelletier put a face or maybe just some camouflage on their pumpkins. |
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| Volunteer Gary Marquis of the Caribou Rec Department volunteered as the Harvest Hoedown “farmer” who got to take hay-riders around the “back forty” at Hilltop Elementary School. |
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| Taking part in the popular Harvest Hoedown obstacle course are, from left in the foreground, students Kaydence Harrison, Faith Lagasse, Da’vonte Riopelle and Grace Lagasse. Helping oversee the fun is CHS sophomore Sara Boyer, far right. |
