CLARENCE, N.Y. — The 14th annual Pumpkin Catapult Contest took place on Sunday at the Great Pumpkin Farm's Fall Festival.
With nothing but wood and the necessary hardware, 12 Western New York high schools built their trebuchets and competed to see who could throw their pumpkin the furthest.
This event allows various high school teams to create a trebuchet — a slingshot-like weapon — using the knowledge they learned in their math, science, and technology courses. Without the use of motors or springs, these trebuchets completely rely on counterweights to launch the pumpkins.
Cash prizes will be awarded to teams who throw their pumpkins the longest distance, have the highest total combined shot, and for "storming the castle." A team "storms the castle" when their pumpkin hits a target that is 150 feet away.
This year a range of high schools are competing in the contest including Clarence, Depew, Forestville, Fredonia, Hamburg, Harkness East, Harkness West, Holland, Newfane, North Tonawanda, Pioneer, and Williamsville South.
Last year Depew High School took home two of the top three honors. The school won the longest single shot with a throw of 687 feet, and highest combined throws, after a total score of 2,004 feet. The team from Pioneer High School won the Storming the Castle trophy.
The Pumpkin Catapult Contest is just one of the events happening at the Fall Festival this weekend. Zombies will be roaming around the super-hero themed corn maze, and live music will be playing at the Witches Brew Bar & Cafe. Balloon Experts will also be walking around showing off their balloon characters and designs.
The full schedule of events can be found on the Great Pumpkin Farm's website.
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