By Charley Falkenburg, Special Writer
Rylan Grano’s little pigtails bounced as she tottered toward a sign stationed near Terhune Orchards’ farm market. Scanning the display of red bunny paw prints, the 18-month-old broke out into a big smile.
Challenge accepted. The Lawrence tot was soon on the prowl for the elusive Terhune Orchards bunny.
Rylan was just one of the hundreds of people who brought their best Elmer Fudd A-games for Terhune’s annual Bunny Chase over Easter weekend. With colorful bunny print clues planted throughout the farm, families and friends were able to enjoy all the farm’s sights and activities while solving the mystery.
”We like to do things our way and this is our take on a spring activity,” said store manager Elaine Madigan of Hamilton. “Everyone wins plus it takes people around the farm to see what’s going on.”
That was the case with Rylan and her mom, Kolby Seidl, of Lawrence. Ms. Seidl explained they had been dabbling in other activities before beginning the hunt.
”We went for a wagon ride first,” she added as her daughter joined a group of children at Clue No. 2 near the farm’s dog pen. “Now we’re chasing that bunny.”
Onward, groups of families followed the colored prints that brought them deeper into the farm. Some paused from the chase and joined the long lines for pony and wagon rides. A few stopped to refuel with hot dogs and beverages at the food tent. Others pushed on toward the green-printed clue right past the area of children driving pedal-powered mini tractors.
Bunny chasers farther up passed arrays of oregano, sage, rosemary and garlic chive plants toward the chicken coops where they found another clue and a picture of Bugs Bunny-esque cartoon munching a carrot. With pastel Easter baskets in hand, several kids gathered at a small tree adorned with plastic Easter eggs. A sign nearby revealed their hopping friend might have opted to take a walk.
With this new insight, Kyle Renda, 4, of Plainsboro, and his family made their way through some of the crop fields. In a Spiderman cap and a fire red jacket that almost matched his hair, Kyle was still easy to spot as he ran ahead upon seeing the last clue.
”We can’t find this bunny either,” said his mom, Michele Renda of Plainsboro. “But this is very cute.”
While Kyle’s family caught up with him, yells of success could be heard as kids finally spotted their furry objective. Hanging outside Terhune’s fairly new red barn, was a large white stuffed bunny. He seemed to beckon everyone inside to enjoy their reward, which came in the form of special bunny cookies and some festive arts and crafts.
Rectangle tables topped with colorful papers, googly eyes, glue and scissors lined the inside of the barn. Parents, children and relatives surrounded each, collaborating on making their own paper bag bunnies to bring home.
At one of the tables were Agnes Leung, her husband and their three children. Ms. Leung, of Marlboro, was busy helping her two 3-year-old sons while her daughter Evangeline, 7, partnered up with her dad.
”We’re making bunny ears right now,” she explained.
While Evangeline enjoyed the hunt and making bunny ears she and her brothers had liked something even more.
”Looking at the animals. The horse was my favorite,” she added, giving a small smile before putting the finishing Crayola touches on her bunny bag.

