Plodding through the pumpkin patch

Since about 2001, the Giblette’s have been welcoming young guests to pace through their pumpkin patch in Malta while perusing for what the children hope will soon be converted into the perfect jack-o’-lantern.

This year the Giblette’s have hosted all of the Malta Elementary classes, groups from Malta’s Head Start, a few smaller groups from local daycares and last Wednesday welcomed Dodson Elementary School.

Suzanne Giblette said that each year she and Thad plant a pound and a half of pumpkin seeds and the yield varies greatly from season to season. On a smaller year, the patch will turnout about 300 pumpkins. On their best year, 2013, the patch produced 1,300.

“This year I think we ended up with around 500,” she said. “But that is just a guess.”

In the past 14 years the Giblette’s have hosted all of the Phillips County Schools to their patch and have seen thousands of children select their free pumpkin to take home and decorate (editor’s note: Suzanne didn’t know the PCN was showing up for the day, wasn’t looking for a story to be written, but graciously answered this reporter's questions.) The Giblette’s first had the idea to host the parade through pumpkin patch when their children were younger and hope to continue the sharing even after their children are well done with schooling.

“It’s just fun to do and the kids enjoy it,” Suzanne said. “It’s always fun seeing the little kids come out and get to pick their own. They walk along and pick the one they want off the vine.”

And what makes for the perfect pumpkin?

“I am not sure,” said Michael Jaynes, a sixth grade student. “I like this one because it is more orange than the others I have seen. It’s a nice circle and I am having fun getting out of school and it is nice out.”

Jaynes added that he was going to carve spooky eyes and a silly smile on his pumpkin when he got home.

Carmen Decelles, a second grade student, said she picked her pumpkin because it was small like she is.

“I also like it because it doesn’t have any rips on it,” she said. “Some of the pumpkins weren’t as nice as this one.”

Decelles said that she would enlist the help of her sister, Shaylee, in converting the pumpkin into a scary jack-o’-lantern.

“I am thinking a vampire face,” Shaylee said.

“You’re a good sister,” Carmen added.

At the conclusion of their pumpkin retrieving, the classes thanked Suzanne, posed for a group picture (see page 6B) and headed to Dairy Queen.