By Julian White and Taji Hubbard / Full 360 Reporters
On a warm Fall afternoon, hundreds of students and faculty spread out across the quad at Delaware Valley University celebrating the harvest of the season.
Feasting on a buffet of fall favorites, students, faculty and staff celebrated Delaware Valley University’s Harvest Festival. They mingled and took part in an array of activities, including farm tours, hayrides, and farmers’ markets, showcasing fresh produce grown at DelVal, crafts created by students, and local delicacies cooked on campus.
“An event like this is the result of our community coming together to do what we do best, and that is to have an event which involves experiential learning,” said Dr. Benjamin Rusiloski, President of Delaware Valley University.
Students had a chance to showcase their plants, products and more. The Cannabis Club showed off some of their THC products and explained to the benefits of them to students. Floral Club members displayed their finest bouquets, selling them for $5. Some sororities and fraternities on campus even sold the right for students to “pie them” in the face. And for a small fee, candied apples were offered.
Assistant Dean of Students Andrew Moyer had a big hand in the development and foundation of the harvest festival this year. When asked about the importance this event had for Del Val he said, “The harvest festival presents an excellent opportunity for students to showcase their agricultural programs, research initiatives, and community engagement efforts. Students, faculty, and staff can actively participate, sharing their knowledge and passion for agriculture with the broader community.”
The biggest draw of the entire festival by far was the hayride over to the university’s pumpkin patch. Students were offered a ride in groups from the quad to the pumpkin patch on campus so they could pick their favorite pumpkin to do with it what they wish. Students walked to and from the ride for the majority of the event, as it was the most exciting part.
After taking a hayride to the pumpkin patch, Junior Reagan Braund said, “I really love this time of year. A lot of students here look forward the fall and love the aesthetic of it.”
“I think DelVal did a good job of capturing the fall spirit and the hayride helped a ton,” said Reagan as she joyfully walked back through the quad with her pumpkin in hand.