On a crisp October day in 1986, Orville and Loretta Tomky loaded up their pickup truck with extra pumpkins and drove to Crowley County Elementary School. This was the beginning of a tradition that has lasted twenty five years. In 1987 Orville had the school load up their busses and let the children pick their own pumpkin. In the years that ensued, there were two rules that have been established, one pumpkin per child, and the children have to be able to carry the pumpkin by themselves. In later years when the pumpkin supply has been more plentiful, Orville has invited the children from the Fowler Elementary School to partake in the festivities. In other years Orville has allowed other groups to come out and pick pumpkins after Crowley County and Fowler finished picking theirs. Orville has been asked why he gives away free pumpkins? His answer, "When I was growing up during the great depression, we couldn't afford a pumpkin, so I want kids today to be able to have a free pumpkin." Orville will turn eighty six years old on Feb. 17, he still tills, plants, cultivates and hoes the patch in the hot summer sun. Every year in October, Orville looks forward to the buses loaded with children visiting his farm. In the past twenty five years there have only been three crop failures, one drought and two blights. In the years that the crops failed Orville was asked, "Why don't you just quit growing the pumpkins?" Orville said, " I enjoy watching the kids faces when they come out and pick their pumpkins."
Orville, along with his wife Loretta, son John and daughter in law Michelle, have been in the patch helping cut the perfect pumpkin. In 2004, Orville's son John started www.myhometeamsports.com. In 2006, John started live streaming high school sports events. John's emphasis is calling the games featuring Crowley County, Fowler, and Rocky Ford. John had the idea for the "Orville Tomky Pumpkin Game". The game will feature the two schools Orville provided pumpkins for the past twenty five years, Fowler and Crowley County. The rivalry between Fowler and Crowley County has been intense since Crowley County schools were consolidated in the early 1960's. The last basketball game between the rivals will have the winning team taking home a traveling trophy, a commemorative t-shirt, and bragging rights for the year. On Feb. 12, the inaugural "Orville Tomky Pumpkin Game" will take place at the Grizzly gymnasium in Fowler. John will live stream the games on www.myhometeamsports.com using the streaming services of www.network1sports.com. John hopes this will start a new tradition. "There is nothing like small town USA and sports rivalries between schools like Fowler and Crowley County. I hope this Orville Tomky Pumpkin Game outlives both Orville and I." When you see students from Crowley County and Fowler wearing the t-shirts, designed by Graphic Designs Unlimited, you will know the story and the tradition of the Orville Tomky Pumpkin Game. Remember to attend the game at the Fowler High School Gymnasium on Friday, Feb. 12 and if you can't make it, listen live on www.myhometeamsports.com or www.network1sports.com
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On a crisp October day in 1986, Orville and Loretta Tomky loaded up their pickup truck with extra pumpkins and drove to Crowley County Elementary School. This was the beginning of a tradition that has lasted twenty five years. In 1987 Orville had the school load up their busses and let the children pick their own pumpkin. In the years that ensued, there were two rules that have been established, one pumpkin per child, and the children have to be able to carry the pumpkin by themselves. In later years when the pumpkin supply has been more plentiful, Orville has invited the children from the Fowler Elementary School to partake in the festivities. In other years Orville has allowed other groups to come out and pick pumpkins after Crowley County and Fowler finished picking theirs. Orville has been asked why he gives away free pumpkins? His answer, "When I was growing up during the great depression, we couldn't afford a pumpkin, so I want kids today to be able to have a free pumpkin." Orville will turn eighty six years old on Feb. 17, he still tills, plants, cultivates and hoes the patch in the hot summer sun. Every year in October, Orville looks forward to the buses loaded with children visiting his farm. In the past twenty five years there have only been three crop failures, one drought and two blights. In the years that the crops failed Orville was asked, "Why don't you just quit growing the pumpkins?" Orville said, " I enjoy watching the kids faces when they come out and pick their pumpkins."
Orville, along with his wife Loretta, son John and daughter in law Michelle, have been in the patch helping cut the perfect pumpkin. In 2004, Orville's son John started www.myhometeamsports.com. In 2006, John started live streaming high school sports events. John's emphasis is calling the games featuring Crowley County, Fowler, and Rocky Ford. John had the idea for the "Orville Tomky Pumpkin Game". The game will feature the two schools Orville provided pumpkins for the past twenty five years, Fowler and Crowley County. The rivalry between Fowler and Crowley County has been intense since Crowley County schools were consolidated in the early 1960's. The last basketball game between the rivals will have the winning team taking home a traveling trophy, a commemorative t-shirt, and bragging rights for the year. On Feb. 12, the inaugural "Orville Tomky Pumpkin Game" will take place at the Grizzly gymnasium in Fowler. John will live stream the games on www.myhometeamsports.com using the streaming services of www.network1sports.com. John hopes this will start a new tradition. "There is nothing like small town USA and sports rivalries between schools like Fowler and Crowley County. I hope this Orville Tomky Pumpkin Game outlives both Orville and I." When you see students from Crowley County and Fowler wearing the t-shirts, designed by Graphic Designs Unlimited, you will know the story and the tradition of the Orville Tomky Pumpkin Game. Remember to attend the game at the Fowler High School Gymnasium on Friday, Feb. 12 and if you can't make it, listen live on www.myhometeamsports.com or www.network1sports.com
