Polk County itemizer observer., October 04, 2017, Page 8A, Image 8

Polk County News
8A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • October 4, 2017
Off to the (zucchini) races
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
MONMOUTH — Students at Mid-Valley
Christian Academy filled the gymnasium on
Friday afternoon to see whose zucchini cre-
ations would travel the fastest and farthest
down a ramp.
Those were two of eight categories stu-
dents competed in for the fourth annual
Zucchini Car Races, the brain child of head
administrator, Gaye Stewart.
“We were trying to do something fun for
the kids,” said administrator Mike Stewart.
“The first couple of years, we did it out in
the parking lot.”
Teacher Michael Dupuis said the event
became a spirit day and gave students a
chance to work on team-building.
“We had a really elaborate ramp out here,
but then the weather wasn’t predictable,”
Mike Stewart said. “We had some that were
on skateboards for distance, and they went
clear to the end of the parking lot.”
After that, Dupuis said the rules were
tweaked to discourage strapping a large
squash onto a skateboard.
“It’s hard to determine a winner when
they all go the distance,” Dupuis said.
Even so, many of the entries for “farthest”
were attached to something with wheels —
the winner lay on the back of a Tonka flatbed
truck.
Other categories brought out the creativi-
ty of students — some with a little inspira-
tion from their parents, Mike Stewart said. In
the “Most Whimsical” category, one student
created a tyrannosaurus rex chasing a cow.
“He’s going to have a hamburger,” Mike
Stewart said.
In the “Most Colorful,” a roller-skating
zucchini wore the same dress as its creator,
while another — the winner — was splashed
with all the colors of the rainbow, and
looked like a caterpillar.
In the “Funniest,” a zucchini could be
spotted taking a nice bath, while another
was turned into a whale — complete with
Jonah riding inside.
“Some tied in Bible verses that we’re
using,” Mike Stewart said.
Five impartial judges had a tough time
deciding the winners, he said.
“At one point they had three and asked,
Mid-Valley Christian Academy students let their creativity show on Friday.
PHOTOS BY EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer
Students tested their zucchini creations
Friday afternoon.
‘can we have a tie?’” Mike Stewart said. “No,
we can’t have a tie. They made some selec-
tions. All of you did a great job.”
After the winners of the farthest and
fastest categories were determined, any stu-
dent who had a zucchini on wheels could try
Zucchini creations were on display on Friday afternoon.
his or her creation on the ramp. Because the
squash grows curved, simply putting wheels
on it can make the vegetable go crooked.
Students gathered around until all who
wanted to race their creation had a chance
to do so before enjoying refreshments of —
what else? — zucchini muffins.
“We said the winner is the one who had
the most fun,” Mike Stewart said. “I think
you all had fun.”
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Harlan Boyce watches as Mike Stewart launches his zucchini car down the ramp.
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