Southern Nebraska Register
Eight years ago, Mike Witulski of St. Joseph Parish in Beatrice looked out over his farm west of the town and had a vision of what could be.
That vision turned into a few seeds being planted in the dirt, followed by a few vines emerging from the soil and developing into small pumpkins. Since then, Witulski has cultivated an expansive acre and half of several different varieties of pumpkins. Timely rains brought a bumper crop of beautiful gourds this season and led him to his next big idea.
As a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #1723, Witulski presented the idea for an event to sell more than 3,000 pumpkins to the Beatrice community. Buyers gave a free-will donation, and all proceeds went to St. Joseph School in Beatrice.
On Friday, Sept. 29, the Witulski family harvested and hauled thousands of pumpkins to the school and the event commenced. Kids and adults alike flocked to the area, grinning from ear to ear, to pick out their new front porch decorations and load them into their vehicles.
After four hours, all but 100 pumpkins had been claimed. The event raised more than $2,500 for the school while promoting community and fraternity in the Beatrice area. Principal Emily Lohr said the funds will go toward school needs such as curriculum, teacher wish list items, and school supplies for the 24-25 school year. She said she is raising funds in hopes that the school will be able to supply all supplies for the classroom next year, and no student will need to bring them.
In addition to the funds, the event also provided a great opportunity for the students. The fifth-graders helped unload the trucks and stage the area for the sale. Lohr said the younger students “were jumping up and down with joy” when they saw all of the pumpkins.
“It was so wonderful seeing how the Witulski family had a vision and made it happen,” Lohr said. She added that Madison Witulski is the school’s fifth-grade teacher – the same fifth-grade class she attended as a student herself in 2012.
The school “is so blessed to have her as a member of our faculty and have her family as a huge supporter of our church and school,” Lohr said.
St. Joseph School serves more than 60 students, from pre-kindergarten through the fifth grade.
Brock Lohr, grand knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 1723 in Beatrice, contributed to this report.
