By STEPHANIE BUNKER
Moapa Valley Progress
The Moapa Community Center was filled with chili, pies, and games on Friday evening during the Fall Festival for Ute Perkins Elementary School PTO fundraiser. The 2nd annual event was family friendly and had something for everyone to enjoy.
Families could buy tickets on entry to the event. Those tickets were used to participate at the various booths.
Christina Sherrin-Helm, who was selling tickets at the door, said the PTO uses the money they raised at the festival, all throughout the year.
“Last year we made $1300, and it goes toward helping the school with field trips, supplies, or anything the school needs,” Sherrin-Helm said.
A Chili cook off was held which consisted of 12 entries. There were several popular pots that were slurped up quickly by the crowd. But the judges voted on what they thought was the best entry. For the 2nd year in a row Verna Robison won first place. Frannie Leavitt took second and 10 year old Victoria Herring won 3rd place.
There was also a silent pie auction during the festival. Six different pies were available for people to try and to bid on. The varieties included Banana Cream, Coconut Cream, Peach Blueberry, Cheesecake, Very Berry Pretzel Pie, and Turtle Pie. Besides the auction on the pies there was also a contest for the best tasting pie. Gary Leavitt won with his Very Berry Pretzel Pie, Tim Walker came in second with the Cheesecake that took him two days to make, and Dianne Leavitt, with the banana cream pie, took third place.
Everyone who entered the raffle had a good chance of winning a prize. Many local businesses and families donated the prizes. Wells Fargo donated 2 bikes, Eagle View Construction chipped in a Razor scooter and a drill, True Value/Home Hardware threw in a prelit Christmas tree. Ace Hardware donated RC rally cars and helicopters, even a box of .22 shells. There were many other varieties of things like dolls, gift cards, home and Christmas décor, candy, and many other items.
The list of games for the kids to play included Plinko, Ringtoss, Pin the nose on Olaf, a hool-a-hoop competition, Putt Putt Golf, a Ping Pong race, Bingo, and a Duck Pond. Gabriel Moto loved the turkey walk best. He won it the very first time he played! Both Jaden and Noah Leavitt had fun playing Plinko because it was easy to win prizes. Phillip Walker liked playing Catch of the Day because he got a lot of candy from that game.
The Patriot Rockers held a bake sale to raise money for their costumes throughout the year. Grace Rhude did a marvelous job taking tickets and giving customers their treat of choice. She said she enjoyed being a part of the dance group.
