Tracy Press

Alicia Barnes, a parent volunteer, works on a scarecrow. Enrique Gutierrez/Tracy Press

LATHROP — A year after administrators at Villalovoz Elementary School were forced to pull faulty playground equipment out of the schoolyard, students have taken matters into their own hands.

This week they stuffed old clothes with hay to create 27 scarecrows to compete in the annual Dell'Osso Family Farm scarecrow contest over the next month.

The school has a chance to win thousands of dollars in prize money if one of its scarecrows beats out the 100 on display. The farm will also donate $1 for every combo ticket purchase from visitors with a Villalovoz contest flyer.

Villalovoz students Ryan Wagner (left), Bryant Clark and Fredric Wuerth help set up a scarecrow today. Enrique Gutierrez/Tracy Press

The donations are expected to help the school raise the $20,000 it needs to buy a playground set. Tracy Unified School District administration said it may match the school's funds.

This afternoon, the school's 600 students hauled their scarecrows to the farm off Interstate 5. Scarecrows in the form of pirates, ballerinas, tin men and other odd characters are scattered throughout the 25-acre corn maze.

Parent volunteer Patricia Avila helps unload the scarecrows. Enrique Gutierrez/Tracy Press

Villalovoz parent Alicia Barnes contacted Dell'Osso's marketing director Yvonne Sampson three weeks ago to brainstorm ways to provide the students with playground equipment. The students wait in lines during recess to use monkey bars, tetherball sets and six swings.

"To have all these kids with nowhere to play is just heartbreaking," Barnes said. "It's very important for the kids to get out there and release some energy."

Half of all fundraisers at the kindergarten- through fifth-grade school will go to the playground fund until the school's goal is reached.

Villalovoz School students and parents ride on a wagon on their way to set up the scarecrows at the Dell'Osso Farms in Lathrop. Photo by Enrique Gutierrez/Tracy Press

"It's amazing to see what can be done with a volunteer mom and a phone call," said Sampson. "This has created a real spirit within the school."

About 100,000 people visit Dell'Osso Family Farm each October to walk through the corn maze and haunted house.

People can see the scarecrows from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 29 through Oct. 31 at the farm, at 26 Stewart Road, in Lathrop.

Combo tickets include a tour of the corn maze and haunted house and range from $10 to $15. To get a Villalovoz contest flyer, visit the school, 1550 Cypress Drive, or call 830-3331.

To reach Tracy Press reporter Danielle MacMurchy, call 830-4221 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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written by Al Bundy , September 22, 2007

Ms. Barnes and the Villalovoz Parent club did a great job with the scarecrows. I hope the school is successful in raising the needed funds for the playground. It's pretty sad that a district the size of Tracy Unified won't provide schools with new playgrounds that are safe for its students. CHEERS to Ms. Barnes, and JEERS to TUSD!

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written by bob blinker , September 23, 2007

http://www.insidebayarea.com/t...ci_6977199

During Tuesday night's meeting two representatives of Electronic School Board will be on hand to demonstrate the program and answer trustees' questions.

so the school board is gonna spend money on administration, again, while the kids at villalovoz go without playground eqpt. really, really sad misprioritization of funds.

i hope the villa parents storm the meeting in protest, but i bet they are exhausted from commuting and working to get to the meeting.