By David Humphrey

Pendleton News

PENDLETON — Pendleton Elementary principal Bill Hutton says that school volunteer Mary Crosley is like the Energizer Bunny. She keeps going and going and going.

For 29 years, Crosley taught fourth grade at Pendleton Elementary (formerly known as Pendleton South). Since her retirement, Crosley has volunteered at Pendleton Elementary, where she is coordinator of the Junior Garden Club. Now in its 16th year, there are more than 120 members in the club. 

“It’s a really nice social group,” Crosley said. “We teach them about nature and how to plant things. It helps the kids get involved with gardening and nature.” 

Students from first through sixth grade are eligible to join the Junior Garden Club. Each grade level has a fall and spring project that involves planting trees and growing poinsettas for Christmas gifts. The Junior Garden Club meets regularly in the school’s greenhouse that could easily be Crosley’s second home.

“Mom's there all the time,” said her daughter Pam Schug. “She is always doing something at the greenhouse.” 

Recently, Crosley invited members of the Junior Garden Club to her Pendleton farm for their fall field trip. The Williams Homestead, founded in 1822, is on Huntsville Road near CR South 100 W. It is one of the most picturesque sites in southern Madison County.  

On a warm September afternoon, members of the Pendleton Elementary Garden Club got an up-close-and-personal look at nature on Crosley’s 80-acre farm. The youngsters participated in a scavenger hunt, were treated to snacks and drinks, made crafts and walked the landscape until sundown.

Pendleton Elementary student and Junior Garden Club member Bailey Miles, 9, enjoyed the field trip so much that she hopes someday to live on a farm.

“The trees and hills are beautiful,” Miles said. “When you live on a farm there is a lot of room to do whatever you want. It’s wonderful here and I have had plenty of fun. It would be so nice to live on a farm like this.” 

Though Crosley left most of the physical activity to parent volunteers and students at the field trip, she kept herself busy answering questions about the farm and nature.

“The kids were wonderful,” Crosley said. “It was the first time I have had the Garden Club here at the farm and the kids conducted themselves so well.” 

And just how valuable is Crosley to Pendleton Elementary?

“She is priceless,” Hutton said. “Mary is always on the go and planning things that cannot be duplicated in the classroom. It is like she never retired.”