Nine teams of four raced against time to beat their opponents in pie eating, cider chugging, pumpkin carving and digging for pennies in “pumpkin guts” in the field between Finch Fieldhouse and the Health Professions Building.

Registration was $20 per team, the profit of which was donated to Special Olympics Michigan

“I absolutely loved the event,” said Portage freshman Katie Bates. “It really brought my group of friends closer together.”

Bates competed on “Team Whiteout” and said it was a great way to raise funds for Special Olympics Michigan and she had a lot of fun participating.

Before the relay’s first heat kicked-off, Lake Isabella resident Julie Littell spoke to participating students about Special Olympics Michigan and the organization’s importance. Littell competes in Area 7 with Michigan Special Olympics and has participated for the last 30 years.

After the pep-talk, teams competed for roughly an hour in two heats. Team “Nose Goes” won the grand price — eight Detroit Pistons tickets.

FallFest was organized by students enrolled in RPL 430: Planning Recreation Programs and Events.

Rockford junior Jeff Shutich, Lowell sophomore Josh Wallner, and Rochester Hills senior Dave Bule compete in the donut eating contest as part of the FallFest Relay Race Saturday afternoon at the field between Finch Fieldhouse and the Health Professions building. (Leah Sefton/Staff Photographer)

Erica Groden, a Fort Gratiot senior, said she thought the event went well over all.

“We had really good comments from all the groups that participated there and having the Pistons tickets as a grand prize was a really big seller,” she said.

Groden said the class raised over $300 for Special Olympics Michigan.

They organized the event as the class’ main project for the semester, she said. The assignment was to put on a fundraiser for the charity of their choice.

“My group decided we wanted to support the Special Olympics (Michigan),” Groden said. “A lot of us had already done previous work with them and we liked the organization so much we just wanted to contribute and give back to them.”

Tim Otteman, assistant professor of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services, said the focus of the class is learning how to plan events,

He said the students who organized FallFest learned a variety of concepts throughout the planning process and the event went well overall.

“I think the really positive thing they did was provide a really fun activity for the people that chose to participate and obviously raised money for the charity of their choice,” Otteman said.

College Republicans held a “Pie a Republican” event in which passers-by were able to pay $2 to throw a pie at a several members. It was held Wednesday afternoon outside the Charles V. Park Library.

Cooper took advantage of the group’s first event by throwing a pie in Goodrich’s face.

“That made my day and was wonderful,” said Cooper, a Portland senior. “It was totally worth it.”

A number of students showed enthusiasm about throwing pies as well.

Republican Kurt Laskowsky said he was glad to throw a pie in another Republican’s face.

“I’ve always wanted to throw a pie in the face of my own kind,” said Laskowsky, a Harrison graduate student.

Laskowsky chose to pie College Republican member Vanessa Oblinger.

Oblinger maintained a positive outlook as she took the whipped cream pie in the face.

“It’s for a good cause,” said Oblinger, a Saranac sophomore. “It was cool, sweet and sticky.”

Goodrich said many students felt bad about throwing a pie.

All proceeds help fund the group’s other events and investments, including showing support for America’s troops.

“Last year, we sent 11 boxes of T-shirts to Iraq,” Faber said.

The money also helps to pay for the central costs.

“The funds are mainly for the group. So when something comes up, we don’t have to worry about people coming up with money,” Goodrich said.

Goodrich said fundraisers allow the group to purchase T-shirts each year.

Any extra money will go toward the group’s trip to the Conservative Political Action Conference, held in Washington, D.C.