Once each bus is parked in the mowed pasture, Kelley and her assistants direct the students and their chaperones to a waiting tractor-pulled cotton wagon. Once safely loaded and seated on benches in the sweet-smelling hay, the mile or so long, slow, and suitably bumpy ride to the pumpkin patch begins to the delight of all. Upon arrival at the pumpkin patch, the passengers disembark to a dazzling array of 16 to 18 varieties of pumpkins which are scattered over hill and dale, as the 13 acre patch drops off toward the woods which line the Coosa River. Traditional orange pumpkins are punctuated with red, brown, and even white varieties nestled among the green vines, which are themselves beginning to take on yellow hues as they begin to die. For a nominal fee, which is collected by the teachers before embarking on the field trip to the pumpkin patch, each student is allowed to select any pumpkin she or he chooses.
Some classes bring plastic sacks and others simply tote their pumpkins as best they can.
Some choose smaller varieties. As one might suspect, many children can be seen attempting to waddle out of the field carrying or dragging pumpkins, which must be at least half their size, back to the wagon. Kelley and Lynn are also anticipating the return of their own loyal customers this year, as well as the addition of new ones.