Kids of all ages come to pick a pumpkin — and more!

Scores of little kids — with parents, grandparents and older siblings tagging along — flooded on to the Motherhouse grounds this weekend to become candy-corn tossers, corn pile players, hay rack riders and pumpkin pickers.

The first-ever Motherhouse Pumpkin Patch was definitely a hit!

The event was Saturday and Sunday, from 1 to 5 p.m. The final session will be on Halloween — Saturday, Oct. 31, also from 1 to 5 p.m.

The entrance is the new east gate (between the Motherhouse and the Concordia Community Garden), and admission is $3 per person, with kids 2 and younger free.

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The event was has been organized by Holly Brown, the Sisters of St. Joseph development director, with assistance from Motherhouse gardener Lyle Pounds, Sister Cese Green and staff members Jim Helton, Greg Gallagher, Ambria Gilliland, Bob Kearn, Curtis Mansfield, Jackie Massell, Keith Sells, Brad Snyder, Eric Tremblay and Jane Wahlmeier.

The idea was to bring families to the Motherhouse grounds for a fun fall event, and opening day was an absolute success, Brown noted, adding that the hay ride around the groups — courtesy of tractor driver Lyle Pounds — was one of the most popular features. By Pounds’ count, there were 266 hay-rack riders over the two days, and no one seemed to mind waiting in line for a lengthy ride that included a scavenger hunt.

The event was also a chance to meet some of the Sisters of St. Joseph, who will be helping out as volunteers, Brown said. All proceeds from the event benefit the Sisters of St. Joseph and their ministries.

Special thanks go to those who donated items to make the event possible: Country Home Berries (Larry and Teresa Brundridge), Walmart of Concordia and Depot Market (Dan and Kathy Kuhn) donated pumpkins,  Bill and Sondra Ramsey and Dennis and Rosemary Burt donated hay bales, and Cloud County Co-Op donated corn stalks.