Scaring Up Friends for Fun

Scarecrows and fanciful farm animals have taken up residence amid stands of golden sunflowers at a family farm in Saugus.

The wood and papier-mache displays, some looming 10 feet high and 8 across, were entries in the 10th annual scarecrow contest sponsored by Lombardi Ranch. The exhibition will remain open to the public until Halloween.

Despite the name of the competition, entries are not limited to scarecrows, said event coordinator Adria Faulconer. That might explain why some of this year’s 63 displays feature birds and barnyard animals with nary a straw man in sight.

This year’s grand prize of $1,000 went to David Flores of Palmdale, whose wood and fabric creation features several scarecrows that roll in a circle in the wind. Another award-winning entry was the firefighter cow, who douses flames while pigs and chickens flee for their lives. A total of $4,500 in prize money was awarded Sept. 26.

Scarecrow-creators ranged in age from 7-year-olds to adults, said Peter Kaulbach, a Lombardi Ranch employee.

In past years, celebrities such as Elvis and Pee-wee Herman provided inspiration, but this year the prominent theme is Y2K, Faulconer said.

The family-owned ranch on Bouquet Canyon Road six miles north of Valencia Boulevard grows corn, tomatoes, watermelons and pumpkins, all sold from its roadside produce stand.

Faulconer said the ranch holds the contest each autumn “because it’s fun.”