Voting in the fifth annual painted pumpkin contest at Little T’s Mini Golf in Mountain Home concludes today, with winners to be announced on Sunday, Oct. 4. Each vote costs $1, or 10 votes for $5, with all proceeds benefiting The Call, a nonprofit organization supporting foster families in Baxter and Fulton counties.
Votes can be cast in person at Little T’s, located on Highway 5, during business hours. The pumpkins receiving the most votes will earn trophies. This year’s entries, crafted from artificial pumpkins sold at Hobby Lobby to ensure durability, have been displayed since the submission window closed on Sept. 20.
The contest began in 2022, shortly after Scott and Brandi Tavegia purchased the miniature golf course, formerly known as All About Fun, and renamed it Little T’s after their son Andrew, who was born with Down syndrome. That first year, the Tavegias received more than 55 painted pumpkin entries and built shelving within the facility to exhibit them. The inaugural event raised nearly $4,000 for The Call, including $2,500 contributed through votes.
The contest quickly became a signature fundraiser for Little T’s, raising increasingly higher amounts each year despite fluctuations in the number of entries. In 2024, funds raised surpassed the previous year’s total by $1,191. “The Call is a resource that is volunteer-driven,” Scott Tavegia said in 2024. “Their goal is to help find a home for every child that needs to be placed in a home.”
The need for foster care remains significant in the region. As of 2024, The Call was supporting 26 foster homes hosting 41 children and teens across Baxter and Fulton counties. The prior year, Baxter County reported 47 children in foster care, with 23 placed outside the county due to a shortage of foster homes locally. Proceeds from the pumpkin contest help fund training, home preparation, and continuous support services aimed at keeping foster children within their communities, close to their schools, friends, and families, while their parents work toward reunification.
Little T’s has been recognized for its contributions to the community, including being named the 2025 Entertainment Venue of the Year by a local publication for its commitment to family-friendly events, fundraising, and inclusive employment. For more information about the contest, call Little T’s at 870-701-3066.