A day for pumpkin patch kids

NISQUALLY - Allie Godwin, 8, of Shelton, has an idea of what she's looking for in a pumpkin.

“I sort of like the odd-shaped ones. They’re unique,” she said as she spent the day at Schilter Family Farm in Nisqually with her two sisters, parents and grandparents. “I don’t know what I’m going to pick before I go.”

The trip to the Schilter Family Farm has become a Halloween family tradition since Allie was 2, said her mom, Shala. The family saves pumpkins until Halloween week, when it’s time to carve faces into the squashes.

“Our one rule is they have to have a pumpkin that they can lift,” Shala Godwin said. “My husband and I, we just look for the biggest ones we can buy.”

The Godwins were among hundreds of people at the Schilter farm taking advantage of the sunny fall Sunday to find a pumpkin, shoot ears of corn out of an air gun, or run through a corn maze.

Jeff Schilter of Schilter Family Farm said the farm has about 10 to 12 different varieties, which gives people a choice in pumpkin color, shape and size, including a number of pale, warty pumpkins.

“They are the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen, but for someone that’s the perfect pumpkin,” he said.

They also made sure to have a number of soccer ball-sized pumpkins available for those whose budgets might not allow for the biggest pumpkin in the patch, Schilter said.

But there are some visitors who seek the 150-pound pumpkin, he said.

“Guys. And kids,” he said. “But I don’t like moving the big ones, so I don’t grow too many of them.”

Venice Buhain: 360-754-5445

vbuhain@theolympian.com