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pumpkin Dreams

New seed catalog came! Much of the snow is gone. Hot cup of my favorite Sukuma Bros. Market Stand Tea and a new seed catalog. It is a lovely read looking at all the heritage varieties. Who knew there were so many kinds of pumpkins?

A Big Impact in a Short Season

A Big Impact in a Short Season by Marion Hixon
FUNWORLD magazine,
The International Association of Parks & Attractions Nov. /Dec. 2009

In its offseason, Carolyn’s Country Cousins (CCC) in Liberty, Missouri ia a working farm. But from mid-September through Nov. 1, the attraction makes the most of its time and invites guests to get involved through art shows, pig races, dog shows, and make your own scarecrow activities. For the first time this year, they ended with spirit and celebrated Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on Nov. 1.
“Being a seasonal attraction, we’re known for our autumn activities, and many local families come for the pumpkin patch of the Liberty Corn Maze,” says Gieselle Fest, site director for the attraction. “But we’ve taken it step farther in the past couple of years and really reached out to event groups for field trips.” Here are a few lessons Fest learned from hosting school and special interest groups.

1. Coordinate with curriculums. “We consider ourselves an educational farm, so oftentimes, we find out what school and complement that with farm and animal knowledge.
2. Let the Animals do the Talking. Animals have proven therapeutic for special needs children, so CCC often reaches out to these groups at local schools.
3. Be Flexible. “You never know what’s going to happen with young kids, so have several activities
Planned, but be prepared to rearrange your schedule quickly.”
www.carolynscountrycousins.com

NKC Resource Fair

Carolyn and I had the great opportunity to meet teachers with the North Kansas City School District at the annual resource fair. It's always a great time to talk one on one. We were able to show a fossil from the new coming activity for the fall season.

Search & Rescue Unit Certification Exercise

H.A.R.R.T. – (rescue and recovery organization) held its SAR ( Search and Recovery) School SAR Field Unit Member Certification Exercise at the Liberty Corn Maze, Saturday. This was the practical field exercise challenge to use their recent skills earned and certifies them to respond to a SAR Incident Mission.

Students were from various Community Emergency Response Teams, Disaster Animal Rescue Teams, Medical Reserve Corp, Fire Departments, Local Government, Law Enforcement, and Federal Government Employees.

HARRT is a specially trained local search, rescue, and recovery unit that are often essential to reducing loss of life and human suffering, in that as such; assistance may be paramount in the earliest stages of the incident and in the aftermath of disasters.

This volunteer organization responds where and when needed, through the Platte County and Clay County Sheriff’s Department, and as requested by State, Federal, National agencies in need of search, rescue, and recovery.

This group has participated in recently in locating a missing child and an Alzheimer patient.

The heat index was over 105 degrees. The trails had not been cleaned. The decision / locator posts in but not marked. The group was asked why they wanted to continue with the practice. Their response was that emergency doesn’t know weather, location or time of day. When they are needed they go.


More information:www.harrt.net

Dakota Pumpkin Muffins

Grandma Ann sent a new recipe:

Dakota Pumpkin Muffins
1 ½ c. whole wheat flour
½ c. ground flaxseed
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ t. salt
1 c. chopped nuts
½ c. semi –sweet chocolate chips
2 eggs
2 c pumpkin
½ c. plain yogurt
¾ c honey
1 t. molasses

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix dry ingredients.
Beat eggs & mix w/ other items.
Pour in greased muffin tins.
Bake 20-25 minutes

Makes approx. 15 muffins.
Dakota