Aspyn Acres event is a Pumpkin Palooza

The large numbers of families and children at Aspyn Acres’ “Pumpkin Palooza” exceeded expectations and delighted event organizers the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 18. 

 

Aspyn Acres, located a few miles north of Waseca off county highway 22, is a not-for-profit organization with two purposes, explains organization executive committee president Kerstin Hartzler. One is to provide a haven for injured or homeless domestic animals. To offer examples, the barn and livestock structures on the property house a goat whose legs were frostbitten when it was born prematurely; a goose which can neither walk nor fly, but has very “pettable” soft feathers on its neck and head; a full-grown steer brought there in such an emaciated state it was uncertain whether it would survive; and many others which, for various reasons, did not have a home elsewhere.

 

The many visitors at the facility on Oct. 18 interacted with the animals on various levels ranging from simply watching them and walking among them to buying small cups of feed and allowing them to eat from their hands.

 

According to Hartzler, 11 volunteers helped operate the activities offered to visitors. Perhaps most obviously, pumpkins were available in exchange for a donation and were decorated and painted. Halloween-themed coloring sheets the size of whole tables were set out as a form of entertainment, and a few other crafts and activities were offered, including a giant pumpkin bowling lane framed by straw bales. Volunteers introduced the various animals to visitors and supervised their interactions with them.

 

Hartzler expressed gratitude for the size of the crowd and for the pleasant fall weather which helped make the day an appealing one to spend outdoors.

 

The less visible side of the facility, she mentioned, is one which rescues and cares for wild animals in distress. Aspyn Acres is part of a statewide network of facilities allowed to take in injured or orphaned animals of all types and help them become independent before being released back into the wild. 

 

“All of our operations are funded entirely by donations,” she explains. “All of our day-to-day operations are carried out by volunteers.

 

“Any money we raise goes toward housing, feeding, and caring for the animals.”

A current project at the facility, she shared, is building a shed specifically for the facility’s goats. “Our expected cost is $10,000,” she said. “So far we’ve raised about half of that.”

 

Selling baked goods and contributing half their income for the day to the facility was dRaeCakes, a Waseca cottage industry. Staffing the booth were baker Dana Sellers and assistant Alex Ayers.

 

“This is a really worthy cause,” said Sellers, indicating the children taking part in activities and interacting with the animals. “I’m really glad to be here and be able to help support it.”

Another volunteer said her favorite task at Aspyn Acres is helping clean the barn and care for the animals. “Sure, it can be messy,” she said. “But I know I’m doing real work to help, and there’s something really honest about it.”