CLARENCE, N.Y. -- For 17 high school teams, a trip to the Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence meant more than some fall-themed fun. It was a chance for them to get competitive while testing their building skills.
The 11th annual Pumpkin Trebuchet Competition was held Sunday. It involved the teens building working catapults that launched pumpkins for distance and accuracy competitions.
Event organizers said it was a chance for students to learn valuable life skills.
"It teaches them camaraderie, (for) one thing," said Kevin Riggs, an event organizer. "They have to work together. They have to learn how to work as a team. That's pretty important, and it gives them just basic skills. I mean math skills, this and that. "
Teams were formed from students in science and technology classes.
The winners in each category are:
- 1st prize for longest single throw: Depew High School with a 483 foot shot(Hamburg High School came in second (470 feet); Holland High School came in third (457 feet)
- 1st prize for combined throws: Depew High School with a total of 1,396 feet (Pioneer Central came in second (1,299 feet); Holland Central came in third (1,225 ft.)
- Storming the Castle winner: Nichols School