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Third annual Harvest Festival supports preschool

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Molly Hollman, Alyiah Reinholt and Ayanna Labelle enjoy ice cream cones from Fresh Ella's ice cream truck.
Molly Hollman, Alyiah Reinholt and Ayanna Labelle enjoy ice cream cones from Fresh Ella’s ice cream truck during the third annual Harvest Festival in Kingfield. The festival supports the Maine Mountain Children’s House, a Montessori preschool.
A horse drawn wagon ride was just one of the activities at Saturday's Harvest Fest in Kingfield.
A horse drawn wagon ride was just one of the activities at Saturday’s Harvest Fest in Kingfield.

KINGFIELD – Kingfield’s third annual Harvest Festival filled the fields of Mountain Village Farm Bed and Breakfast Saturday afternoon. The event raises funds for the Maine Mountain Children’s House, a Montessori preschool for ages three to six.

Montessori teaching and learning is based on foundations of independence and respect for a child’s natural development-psychologically, physically and socially.

“It’s emotional to talk about MMCH,” Julia Eggleston said. Eggleston’s second child, 3-year-old daughter Adeline Ehrlenbach, now attends MMCH.

“We moved here six years ago and my son went to school there. It was so perfect. It’s a real community. It’s so much more than just putting your child in preschool or day care,” she said.

Eggleston goes on to explain how much pride her daughter already has when she talks about school.

“There’s an apple tree outside the school that the kids can climb. She has such a sense of accomplishment when she tells me about climbing it,” she said.

Tina Chase, whose daughter attended MMCH in 2014, shows a similar affection for the school.

“The whole theory of acceptance in the Montessori type of teaching and being is amazing to see,” Chase said. “The kids are really able to hone in on their own skills.”

The Maine Mountain Children’s House was founded by Samantha Wright in 2006. Eight years later, Wright died in a tragic car accident. Her community in Kingfield rallied to keep MMCH thriving, in part by finally organizing the Harvest Fest fundraiser that had always been talked about.

“We started talking about doing this fest. We could have hayrides and music and good food. Sam laughed at first,” Bethany Mahar said. Mahar took over the director position at MMCH after Wright’s death.

“But then we did it. We got our troops together and made it happen,” she said.

The festival, which Mahar described as “ever evolving” included horse drawn wagon rides, games for kids, Kennebec River Brewery selling “Autumn Sangria” and live music by Bread & Circus. The event also made the addition of food trucks this year, rather than cooking all of the food themselves like they did in years past.

“It’s a lot of work,but everything we love and believe in is exemplified here,” Mahar said.

For more information about Maine Mountain Children’s House you can visit its site here.

Live music by Bread & Circus played in the barn at Mountain Village Farm.
Live music by Bread & Circus played in the barn at Mountain Village Farm.
Kids play at Kingfield's third annual Harvest Festival.
Kids play at Kingfield’s third annual Harvest Festival.
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5 Comments

  1. Such an amazing time we all had!! This was the first year I made it, but it will be on my calendar every year from now on. Great fun was had by children and adults as well, with delicious local food, ice cream, beer and music. The experience made us feel lucky to be part of such a community that supports this fabulous school.

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