Holley 1st graders explore Vendetti Farms, bring home pumpkins

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Holley first-graders visited Vendetti Farms this morning on Fancher Road, which has been an annual fall outing for students since 2008.

About 60 first-graders were at the farm, and were able to pick out a pumpkin to take home.

These first-graders meet “April,” a Nigerian Drawf goat brought to the farm by Karen Gaylord, who works as an administrative assistant with the school district’s special education program.

Gaylord said the goat likes to climb, and enjoyed its perch on the stone wall.

Karen Gaylord holds a chicken that drew a crowd on kids. One of the kids exclaimed, “That’s so soft.”

Lynn Vendetti shows kids the sign at Vendetti Farms, and notes the different crops grown on about 2,500 acres. Vendettti Farms sells from a produce stand, and also through wholesale and processing markets.

The family is in its fourth generation of farming. Vendetti farms was started by Anthony Vendetti, who was followed by Albert, then Lynn’s husband Bob, and their sons, Bobby, Ryan and Andrew.

Lynn Vendetti is a retired Holley elementary teacher. She first brought a class of her fourth grade students to the farm, and it has expanded to the entire first grade. The outing ties into their curriculum of learning about the fall. She said it’s also a lot of fun for the students and the Vendetti family.

Ron Vendetti drives a tractor while the students get a hayride at the farm, including a close look at the combines and other big farm equipment.

Lynn Vendetti shows the students a pumpkin that was hit by hail by hail on Aug. 11, causing some scarring. Vendetti said the farm lost most of its pepper crop, while pumpkins and squash were damaged.

These kids play a pumpkin game, where pumpkins are bowled towards crates.

Lori Hinman, a teacher aide at Holley, cleans some mud off a pumpkin for one of the students.

Greyson Arthur, a first grader, stacks pumpkins up high in one of the pumpkin games.