It was a very special night this past weekend in Valley Home. A night to celebrate a bountiful harvest season. Folks came from miles around to celebrate this year’s harvest season. Thank you to all who helped in any way to make this night such a special one. Your caring hearts and helping hands were appreciated by a very grateful community. Working together we once again created an evening where our young and old could come together; children’s laughter, an amazing petting zoo, a most special carved “Valley Home Welcome Pumpkin” and fun games, contests, prizes, and a delightful Hay Ride made for a wonderful night for all. Our young folks enjoyed a fun costume contest parade, each receiving a treat during the parade around the Harvest Festival! It was fun to watch the roping action taking place over by the pumpkin roll. We deeply appreciate the amazing help from our Oakdale High and Escalon High student helpers! They kept the games lively; our prize tables were hopping all night. A great time was had by all. It was great seeing folks enjoying handshakes, hugs, and visits from friends and neighbors they had not seen in a while. Appreciation and joyful thanksgiving were evident everywhere one went. We are so blessed to live in a peaceful, safe community where our children can run about freely. Laughter is plentiful, and for those of us who aren’t as young as we used to be, we can sit on a hay bale or in a warm truck and enjoy the sights of the night. It was very special to have a hard-working almond and walnut harvest shaker there for all to see, it was definitely a night to celebrate the hard-working men and women who bring in the fall harvest here in Valley Home. Food, hot chocolate, and cold drinks were available throughout the Harvest Festival. Bingo drew a great crowd; the cake walk was a hit with folks seeking a sweet treat. Cotton candy, sno cones and hot popcorn brought smiles to many. Under a beautiful full Harvest Hunter moon folks came together, and truly enjoyed this very special evening. We are so grateful to those who donated to our Silent Auction and our Class Baskets. Your generosity is very much appreciated by our Valley Home students! A big thank you to the K-Arrow Ranch; your generous donation for our Beef Raffle was such a tremendous blessing. We thank our Stanislaus County Supervisor Buck Condit and his family for coming out to Valley Home to be with us. We are extremely grateful to our Veterans and to our Stanislaus County First Responders, Modesto Fire, and Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department. We were so excited to receive an amazing flyover during the evening from Air 101. We had a very special visit from the California Highway Patrol, San Andreas unit. It was indeed a truly wonderful night in Valley Home. The evening was complete when our Oakdale Leader Editor came by for a very special visit. Thank you to all for making this night so special.

As always you may reach me by email at winniemullins51@gmail.com or by telephone at 209-985-5233.

Until next time, “Happy Trails to All.”