Heidi Keiper

Happy Fall Y’All! One staple in Benton County that shouts fall is upon us is spending the day at Bloomsbury Farms in Atkins. Atkins Elementary was able to enjoy this attraction thanks to the Benton PTO.  We went out on Tuesday, October 17. Students brought their lunch and began the afternoon by eating in one of the two barns and/or enclosed areas.

After lunch, the students were able to go by class to many different stations. Students loved jumping (and maybe trying some flips) on the great big Jumping Pillow. They loved to see how high they could bounce and had a great game of TAG while on the pillow. It’s harder than you think to run on an inflated pillow. Students then got the chance to go down the slides. Many of them got very playful and were going headfirst enjoying a loud scream all of the way down. The children loved playing in the corn also. Many of them were completely buried in the corn except for mouth and nose. I would bet that many a parent found corn in the pockets of their children before doing laundry that night!

Students also got to see many different animals, including llamas, sheep, bunnies, a baby cow, baby piglets, chickens, and ducks. Feeding the animals are a fan favorite, and it’s amazing those poor animals don’t weigh 400 pounds each.  We were able to take a trek through the children’s corn maze that is much less scarier in the light!  Children love to play in Western Town with swings, hay bales, sand, and trying to rope a standing “bull.” Someone always tries to race on the tires sticking out of the ground and someone always falls off, this year was no exception.  A right of passage to end the day, is third graders are able to go through the lighted haunted house with their classmates guided by their teacher, if they so choose. Never a dull moment with 20 screaming third graders when they see the first “scary” dolls! A great time was had by everyone and we are thankful to the PTO for allowing us to participate in this activity.