Page 11 - Mid Valley Times 10-24-19 E-edition

The View From Here
Juanita Adame
A busy weekend for Hillcrest Farms
I attend-
ed Reed-
ley College
back in 1998.
Since I lived
in Sanger,
I would
take, what
I thought
was the easi-
est route to
make it to class on time. That meant driving east on Good- fellow, then south on Reed.
Driving on Reed during the time I was in college meant I’d drive by Hillcrest Farms on a daily basis.
I’d often see Christmas trees being hauled out of there and bus loads of kids visiting for pumpkin patch season.
It wasn’t until last week however, that I finally took the time to visit Hillcrest Farms.
I parked on Reed and be- gan walking toward the park- ing lot of the farm.
I imagined a patch full of pumpkins, some kids, and not much more. I was wrong.
As I approached, I no- ticed a huge field with a corn maze, a line of people waiting for a hay ride.
Girls with their friends taking “Instagram-worthy” photos posing alongside bails of hay.
Kids smiling, parents also enjoying themselves.
I moved through the crowd of people dressed in their fall plaids and orange attire and looked for the “person in charge” so I could interview them.
“Excuse me?” I asked one of the employees, “I’m look- ing for the owner, I’m a re- porter doing a story on Hill-
See COLUMNonpageB2
Pet of the Week
Contributed
Adrian is a 9-year-old altered female. She is very good with other dogs, cats, and kids. She also loves to meet everyone! For information on this sweet pup contact volunteer coordi- nator kim Reed at (559) 250- 5270 or animal control officer Mario Irazoqui at (559) 618- 9071 or message the Sanger Animal Shelter Facebook Page and leave your email address to find out about the regular adoption process.
A pumpkin mother and child greet visitors as they approach the farm.
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
It never would have oc- curred to Melissa Bautista, owner of Hillcrest Farms in Reedley, to sit down and do some online shopping on the afternoon of Oct. 20, as nearly 3,000 visitors filled Hillcrest to enjoy the various attractions like the two steam trains, corn maze, and food vendors they have to offer.
However, she said that’s ex- actly what she and her family would do more than 20 years ago, when they first bought the property.
“We use to sit around all day during our pumpkin patch season,” she said. “And as the two cars came in and left, we would then do our Christmas catalogue shopping.”
Now, any down time is al- most unheard of. Bautista said the month of October is their busiest time of the year.
Photos by Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
One of the main attractions at Hillcrest Farms is their steam train ride. Owner, Melissa Bautista said they have lost count of how many visitors come out just for a chance to ride the train.
ABOVe: Nataly Rubalcava, Annabelle Garcia, Brisana Garcia, Mia Rubalcava, Gemma Valero, and Iliana Hernandez were all first time visitors to Hillcrest.
A visitor enters the Corn Path at Hillcrest Farms.
Bautista said Hillcrest was originally a Christmas tree farm.
“My brother-in-law was a farmer and he said you should do a pumpkin patch, and I said absolutely not,” she said. “But he went ahead and planted forty acres of pumpkins! And when it came to this time he
See HILLCREST on page B8
“We had nobody here back then and of course it’s grown,” she said. “A live steam rail- road is also a pretty big draw.”
The steam train was enough of a draw to attract first time visitor, Iliana Her- nandez and her family.
“We are from Woodlake, this is our first time here, and it’s a lot of fun,” said Hernan- dez. “So far our kids have been
"Back then we'd sit around during pumpkin patch season and maybe two cars would drive in,"
- Melissa Bautista, owner
on the train and the castle. We want to make it a tradition to come out here.”
Sanger High's Homecoming court announced
'Cash Drop' a huge success in Dinuba
Photos Rick Curiel /Mid Valley Times
Sanger High School’s Roberto Zamora and Jennifer Monte- longo were named this year’s Homecoming king and Queen during halftime of the Apache’s Friday night game against Made- ra South.
Robert Zamora waved at onlook- ers during halftime. He shared the same sentiment after being crowned king. “I feel honored,” he said.
Homecoming Queen Jennifer Montelongo smiled at the crowd inside Tom Flores Stadium. “I’m just so happy and honored,” said Montelongo after being crowned.
George Villagrana / Mid Valley Times
ABOVe: A large red and yellow balloon was visible for miles during the "Cash Drop" halftime event at the football game between Selma and Dinuba on Oct. 11.
By George Villagrana
Mid Valley Times
The inaugural Rotary Hot Air Balloon Cash Drop fund- raising event turned out to be
a big hit. The cash drop took place during halftime of the Oct. 11 game between Selma and Dinuba.
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