Giant Pumpkins Weigh-Off at Topsfield Fair

The New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off at the Topsfield Fair was held earlier this month, with a massive 1,900 pound pumpkin taking the first place prize.

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One of the item on my gardening “ pail inclination ” is to successfully acquire a monolithic autumn pumpkin . Although I doubt I will ever produce a record - breaker , outcome like the New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh - Off at the Topsfield Fair will surely exhort me . The fair was held sooner this calendar month , with Hiram Watson of Farmington , New Hampshire take the first place booty of $ 5,000 for his monumental 1,900 Ezra Loomis Pound autumn pumpkin .

The Weigh - Off

The New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh - Off began at Topsfield Fair in 1984 , as an off - shoot of the Family Garden Largest Cucurbit Contest . That year , Wayne Hackney of New Milford , CT grew the gain ground pumpkin , which weighed amere433 pounds . The Family Garden Largest Curcurbit Contest is still hold today . In 1989 , Hackney , along with Hugh Wiberg and Tom Cone , formed the New England Pumpkin Growers Association ( NEGPGA ) . Topsfield Fair became the prescribed weigh - off site for the tie .

Through the years , the competition has gotten so pop that a minimum weight had to be established . The participating pumpkins must librate at least 350 pound and encounter other rules to be eligible . The competition awards more than $ 10,000 in cash prizes , which include prizes for the prettiest , ugly , and ( of class ) largest pumpkins raise in New England . The winning pumpkins remain on display during the length of the bazaar for visitors to view .

Record Breakers

The elephantine Cucurbita pepo produce craze began when Howard Dill of Nova Scotia set a world phonograph recording in 1979 , with a 438 lbf. pumpkin . The famous Dill ’s Atlantic Giant autumn pumpkin seeds have become pop and can probably be found in your local garden center ’s seed display .

In 2002 , NEGPGA and Topsfield arrive at international recognition when Charlie Houghton of New Boston , NH ’s 1,337.6 Cypriot pound pumpkin was deemed the bombastic ever originate in the world , and was formally enter into the Guinness World Book of Records . He was awarded $ 5,000 by the fair that year and his pumpkin was carved into the world ’s orotund Jack O’Lantern .

The 2012 Giant Pumpkin Weigh - Off held at Topsfield middling was the most exciting and record - breaking contest to date . At the carnival , the world ’s first one - gross ton pumpkin vine , grown by Ron Wallace from Greene , RI , weighed in at an unbelievable 2,009 pounds .

The Official Winners for 2014 Are :

1st – Hiram Watson , Farmington , NH – 1,900 pounds2nd – Gary Vincent , Plainville , CT – 1,751.5 pounds3rd – Mark Breznick , Pittsford , VT – 1,710 pounds

For more info about the Topsfield Fair , visitwww.topsfieldfair.org . you’re able to also see a photo gallery of the contesthere .

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Photo/Illustration: All photos courtesy of Topsfield Fair

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