After a weeklong food drive in which 3,970 items were brought in to donate to the food bank, 900 students at Mountain View Middle School in Goffstown concluded the event with the annual Turkey Trot.

A day of heavy rain and wind washed out the event on Tuesday, Nov. 25, forcing the event to be rescheduled to the following day and shifting the route. Instead of running on the school field, students ran on the bus route around the school.

According to Assistant Principal Travis Garrett, the Turkey Trot is a celebratory 1-mile run around the school for bringing in as many nonperishable food items as possible in a week. The school’s goal this year was 3,500.

In years past, a giant turkey has led the trot around the school, but this year, the school wanted to do something different.

“This year, we tried to create more student ownership of the event,” said Garrett.

In an effort to do just that, students were given the option to write a brief essay answering the question, “What is the real meaning behind the Turkey Trot?”

Winners from each grade were chosen, each receiving Turkey Trot T-shirts and the honor of leading the trot.

“Kids who won got a 25-yard head start,” said Garrett.

Out of 100 essays submitted, essay winners were:
• Grade 5 – Sarah Cuddy and Olivia St. Jean
• Grade 6 – Leandra Nault, Alex Edgar, Caitlin Keith, Brennan Pouliot, Georgia Caine and Megan McGrail
• Grade 7 – Molly McKay and Lexi Foster
• Grade 8 – Samantha Ainsworth and Ethan Conley
• LEAP Room – Neil Hiltz, Kyle Boule, Beatrice Cooper, Caitlyn Moody, Joseph Auguir, Cassie Hoffard, Justin Nikiao, Tia Gilchrist and Gavin Bowden. Backpacks and knit Goffstown winter hats were given to the top male and female finishers in each grade.

Trot winners were:
• Grade 5 – Peter Steckowych, Rebekah Zylak and Molly Genest
• Grade 6 – Matt Shaw and Georgia Caine
• Grade 7 – Tim Riehl and Michelle Tremblay
• Grade 8 – Ryan Lavalliere and Samantha Ainsworth. Garrett said the Mountain View Partnership committee at the school also had snacks and water for the kids after the race was over.