From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Omaha, Ne.

I'm having trouble letting this go. So I thought I would share my frustration. For your judgement am I wrong that I feel robbed?


http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=232038

11/28/2014 12:55:40 PM

Central NY

Just saw yer post... You woulda had my vote ... Go get em next year!!!

11/28/2014 1:02:28 PM

Lancaster Kentucky

I agree , it looks like you got ripped off bad

11/28/2014 1:04:12 PM

Valencia Spain

i agree too

11/28/2014 1:26:33 PM

Muddy Waters

Yes you were robbed.Was there a weight limit on there choice?A lot of this stuff is political.My daughter shows horses and a lot of time its whos sleeping with the judge.Not the best horse wins.

11/28/2014 1:35:28 PM

Croatia, EU

I absolutely agree. You were robbed.
So, it's not only in my country they fake and fix the competition and results!
Really a shame.

11/28/2014 1:57:41 PM

Minnesota

I would of picked yours!

11/28/2014 2:45:47 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

robbed is right!!! Unfortunately we have not only brothers who are judges but also growers who are judges. If that was my pumpkin the site would never see another one of mine...

11/28/2014 3:06:42 PM

Norcal

Yes Ripped Off! Can I send you a bubble for some seeds from your pumpkin?

11/28/2014 4:16:01 PM

NILES , CALIF

Boy you got ripped off;
There was a conflict of interest there , with the brother as the judge;
I wouldn't go back there I would take it to a contest
that is legit.

11/28/2014 4:33:43 PM

Colorado

Thats why HDA was left to people to decide at contest,cause pictures arent the best way to go and beauty contests are subjective.However, If you got screw** ,I'd try another contest.

11/28/2014 4:51:37 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

ahaaa..white sticks for everyone..lol

11/28/2014 5:45:09 PM

Honesdale Pa USA

It happened to me this year also. Thats why each grower at the weigh-off should have one vote to decide the winner.

11/28/2014 6:02:55 PM

Central Illinois

How could you feel good knowing you robbed the winner,yours clearly was the best

11/28/2014 6:05:40 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Yup, you got ripped a hard one Darren........

11/28/2014 7:20:15 PM

Home of happy lil plants

i feel like kingstons cutting an orange piece of construction paper out with writing on it to send to darren righttt now even.

11/28/2014 7:32:08 PM

Omaha, Ne.

Bad thing it wasn't even a 2nd or 3rd best. There really needs better guide lines. or just change the name from HD best looking pumpkin to: This reward is for who ever we dam well want it to be reward.

Plus I would love a cut out from Kinston.

11/28/2014 8:03:40 PM

Omaha, Ne.

Bad thing it wasn't even a 2nd or 3rd best. There really needs better guide lines. or just change the name from HD best looking pumpkin to: This reward is for who ever we dam well want it to be reward.

Plus I would love a cut out from Kingston.

11/28/2014 8:03:59 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Sad to see darren you should have won.

11/28/2014 8:12:20 PM

Omaha, Ne.

E mail me MT

11/28/2014 8:16:58 PM

Cheshire,Ma

Yep you got porked.

11/28/2014 9:19:33 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Howard Dill award- This award will be given to the grower of the prettiest,symmetric, orange or orange-red pumpkin at each Intermediate and Premium Level site.How the winner is decided based on this description will be up to each site coordinator

11/28/2014 9:33:04 PM

norway , maine

Robbery !!!

11/28/2014 9:34:10 PM

Johnston, Iowa

Darren, I think I've been in your shoes before. Didn't chap my hide because I grow for big, not orange. Orange beauty is in the eyes of beholder, so to help increase the fairness of this subjective category a group vote would be preferable VS a one person judge.

11/28/2014 9:39:43 PM

Prairie Du Sac Wi

Yeah.robbed. I've noticed over the years at Nekoosa wi that a smaller orange punk has a better chance at HD. In my eyes it seems like they like to give props to a grower that wasn't able to compeat with the big dawgs. In a way that's kinda nice but the award should have to be given to the true HD punk. I think it should be a grower vote but you can't vote for your own.

11/28/2014 10:01:26 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

At least you got a well deserved HD at Anamosa for your 1399. The year before it went to a field pumpkin.

11/28/2014 10:44:18 PM

Muddy Waters

The problem with voting is the most popular person can win it .If they bring 40 friends with them.It should be done by judges but it should be done honestly.I saw a pumpkin loose to a big crowd they werent pumpkin people.just a large crowd.

11/28/2014 11:11:15 PM

Omaha, Ne.

Agreed I'm very grateful for the 1399 I could never imagine losing that pumpkin to a field pumpkin I'm just saying that some of these guys grow big ones put a lot of money into it guys like me just grow and have a chance to compete I think it's a cop out just saying that there's no way to regulat it. Sure some could be close, but this and others that are not even right.

11/28/2014 11:24:25 PM

Omaha, Ne.

Sorry still new to talk to text

11/28/2014 11:26:44 PM

Omaha, Ne.

I agree about the large crowds. But having a vote from the pumpkin growers and the judges. And reminding everyone that is not a popularity contest that they have a responsibility to the HD award itself. Maybe if the award can't be done fairly then it should be just stopped out of respect

11/28/2014 11:31:25 PM

Alaska

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Better luck next time.

11/29/2014 1:21:06 AM

Alaska

But seriously, imho I would have voted for yours fer sure!

11/29/2014 1:25:02 AM

Dorval,Quebec

Your pumpkin looked great.....your diary entry 14 is a laugh...

11/29/2014 11:06:03 AM

Wixom MI.

Darren you are correct with your easement here !but It does appear that this was their first weigh off here and i think after this dispute that they will review how they judge pumpkins hear. Weigh offsites try to learn from their mistakes and make changes.hope that they learn from this one !

11/29/2014 11:40:48 AM

Wixom MI.

Just my opinion but i think that field pumpkins have no place in the howard dill award !!! Howard dill developed atlantic giants not field pumpkins.

11/29/2014 11:45:47 AM

BC, Canada

Agree with Wixom's comment.
Is there no over site or review committee? The effort some growers put in deserves a high standard for judging. That will keep the sport growing in popularity. If the weigh offs become just handing out prizes to friends people will start to avoid the competitions.

11/29/2014 2:18:49 PM

North Smithfield, RI

I guess that those judges were color blind . Despite their mistake in judgement , M Van Pelt is correct . Next year they should take a far closer look .

11/29/2014 3:35:28 PM

So. Maine

When prepping to do our first GPC weigh off 6 years ago I contacted Howard Dills daughter , Dianna and I asked her for her opinion of the minimum weight that should be required for the Howard Dill Award and she said 500 pounds would be a good weight ...... so we have been using that number .

When we do the Howard Dill award selection I have 3 ladies ( non growers ) from the crowd look at the qualified giants and let them decide the winner which fits the description of the rules that are in place .

11/29/2014 4:25:35 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

how much did the pumpkin weigh Darren ???

11/29/2014 6:21:23 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I don't get it, I thought you set a new State record and got the Howard Dill at your weighoff ? What did I miss Darren.

11/29/2014 6:48:07 PM

Wixom MI.

Darren 1399 state record and howard dill award was done in the iowa weighoff, his 829 in the Nebraska weigh off is the one Darren is talking about.

11/29/2014 6:59:53 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

if Dianna Dill stated that the HDA should be approx 500lbs? end of discussion. What is going on here people???

11/29/2014 7:24:06 PM

churchville, ny

A picture is worth a 1000 words Darren - yes, I would be upset too since you grew one nice looking pumpkin.

11/29/2014 8:02:31 PM

video from local news like most media they re write details how THEY want


http://www.1011now.com/lancesjournal/headlines/Lances-Journal-The-Great-Pumpkin-of-Pawnee-City-Oct-13-2014-279073071.html

11/29/2014 8:21:18 PM

Omaha, Ne.

Whats the matter with earning a double header. the 829 deserved no less being the 2nd largest in the patch it didn't get babied any less. It was grown for this purpose in mind. How is what else was grown change how this one was treated. If my first son was an allstar does that mean the 2nd doesn't deserve fair treatment. North, and wicom your argument is lost with me.

Don's 1st place 2009 x sib was an awesome monster (even if it was a baby) it was an orange too. need to send ya a bubble:)

11/29/2014 10:40:10 PM

Omaha, Ne.

Both the 1399 and the 829 had next to no cantalouping or lack of coloring which they could even of compete even with smaller and younger pumpkins. The 495 had much more cantalouping and not much for color.

11/29/2014 11:01:06 PM

Wixom MI.

Hey darren, i think that you missunderstood me. I agree with you that both of your pumpkins are howard dill winners, i think that north shore didn't know that you had two different pumpkins at two different sites. That is all i was tring to explain.

11/29/2014 11:17:13 PM

Omaha, Ne.

oh now I see that now sorry. I should get the dipsh*t award:)

11/29/2014 11:24:16 PM

Wixom MI.

12 years ago i lost the howard dill award to a field pumpkin, so i know how you feel about this, but i think our location realized that they needed to change how they juged the award.

11/29/2014 11:38:19 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Lol Darren, I'm not following as closely as I usually do and when you knocked it out of the park with 1399, I did not know that there was another beauty going to another weighoff.

You had a fantastic year, our hats are off to you.

11/30/2014 12:18:26 AM

Croatia, EU

Darren, you're still good. You need to see how fixing the results works in my country. They actually set up the weight at the weigh-off. For some entries they subtract the weight (and no less than 20 pounds), and for some they added pounds at considerable amounts, all weighed with pallets!.. and then they just take away weight as much as they want… lol
Now that's a robbery.
Thank goodness it's not the legit or gpc weigh-off, but some irrelevant weigh-off.

11/30/2014 5:23:50 AM

Muddy Waters

There is a weight limit on a lot of these HD contests.So Donkin is right.If the limit was 500 lbs.I think the 1947 should have got a HD award .But I think she exceeded the limit a little.But I feel for you Darren.That was a ugly kin that won.That being said.Some guys like ugly women& vice versa.Some like em plump!!!lol

11/30/2014 8:35:26 AM

Kentucky, U.S.A.

Darren, I know it goes against your demeanor to voice this wrong you feel has been bestowed upon you. Surely you'll remember this one day and know why you had to deal with this apparent misjudgement. Hope your perspective reflects the character you wish to portray! Nice pumpkin!

11/30/2014 9:32:07 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Got me to thinking Darren,,,,,, I'm feeling the same way about Kingston and how he kicked my butt bad this year!

So don't feel to bad,,, that was one heck of a pumpkin and you didn't get beat by a 6 year old. lol

Man you did well this year!

11/30/2014 11:05:06 PM

Omaha, Ne.

Sorry bro Kingston deserve to win.he beat you fair and square

12/1/2014 9:34:26 AM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

" I asked her for her opinion of the MINIMUM weight that should be required for the Howard Dill Award and she said 500 pounds would be a good weight".

Diana's reply to Al was that it should be a minimum, not a maximum.

12/1/2014 1:46:25 PM

Upa Creek, MO

I've stated too that many years (excluding 2014) we have not had anything close to 500 pounds here in Missouri when we get a hot summer. You can't have a 500 minimum at every location.

12/1/2014 3:19:54 PM

Johnston, Iowa

^ that is a good point. No minimum weight - its about being pretty and orange, not the weight, right?

12/1/2014 4:59:28 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Your right Darren and my best year ever by far because of it!

12/1/2014 5:06:44 PM

Omaha, Ne.

I think the best looking pumpkin should win, Like it says on the plaque. and because of the the name Howard Dill, it should be it should be an Atlantic Giant.

Without clear guide lines or some attempt to keep this a honored trophy. whats the use of it. I think with the growing weights will produce a gap between the pro's and the poor boy's, the HDA will be a competition that can't be bought.

12/1/2014 7:14:11 PM

South East

Maybe its time to specify requirements for judging to. Things like: No relatives to growers among the judges, No good friends, a crowd vote. And the ability by the site coordinator or a GPC rep, to overturn or undo a decision. There's no fairness of competition if the judges are biased.

12/1/2014 7:23:41 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Darren what you have here is a conflict of interest. Anyone with eyes can see yours was the best looking. There is no minimum requirement as some have suggested. Whether it be 500 Northrup or 1432 Northrup, best looking wins. At least that's how it's supposed to be.

12/1/2014 9:18:09 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

No exhibitions can receive HDA, That is a rule I would like to see

12/1/2014 10:45:05 PM

Wixom MI.

I think that some judges may take the word roundest to literally. (Round like a beach ball) where as most gaints as they get bigger their bottoms get flatter. I think judges m
N

12/2/2014 8:40:10 AM

Wixom MI.

I think that judges need to look a symetry of a pumpkin over roundness because almost all pumpkins get a flater bottom as they get larger. I think that may be one reason why many smaller pumpkin tend to win.

12/2/2014 8:46:42 AM

Rhode Island

the howard dill award was developed by the gpc to reward our hobbies most loved figure.
like any award that requires judging there will some times be awkward moments and decisions that many would not agree with.

certainly in this case darren your pumpkin looked hands down prettier that the other entry that won however,things like this do happen from time to time.we cant also forget that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

in this life of ours everyone must answer to their concience darren. if what you say happened,happened? then those judges are the ones who will feel the shame long after you forget your pain.

theres always next year for you. stay well

pap

12/2/2014 9:15:14 AM

Omaha, Ne.

I knew I was wronged when it happened. But sense this was the first weigh off and with Don and I the only representatives of the pumpkin community. I believed that starting a fight would been childish plus would of shown poor sportsmanship. Plus it wasn't the fault of everyone there. The fault was that one guy could railroad and get his way over two other judges. Wouldn't it be better to give each of the growers and the judges a vote. (growers not able to vote for there own.)(or more then once)

Doing nothing is not going to work:(

I will be growing Orange next year but don't know about competing. I can except that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Being a painter I'm asked all the time what color is pretty and I say they are all purity. But when it come to 50 comments that say its not then there's a problem.
Thank you everyone It was the not knowing that I couldn't deal with, now I can put this to rest:)

12/2/2014 6:52:22 PM

Kentucky, U.S.A.

At Bear Wallow Farms, where Kentucky Giant Pumpkin Growers their weighoff, they have the spectators and growers to line up behind the pumpkin they think should receive the HD award. A little counting to make it official and fair.

12/2/2014 7:44:07 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Honestly Pap, those judges have probably forgotten about it or didn't really care. I doubt they are carrying shame over a pumpkin. Remember, that's all it is.

Darren, I hope you grow a monster beauty, go to the same show but don't allow them to enter or let anyone near it. Claim you are just there for observation purposes while resting up against the 1600lb beauty. lol

12/3/2014 7:42:05 AM

Weatherman

It is no fun being a judge, you can't please everyone.

12/3/2014 10:36:01 AM

NILES , CALIF

This happens every year;someone gets robbed on a hd award,
cause of how the gpc has written.

Whats it gonna take for a change in gpc on the Hd award;
Cant use the honor system

12/3/2014 10:43:14 AM

Home of happy lil plants

I still just want to win a plaque! I don't even care if its orange blue green purple with a shade of lavender just so I get a plaque

12/3/2014 11:17:28 AM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

If I could throw my two cents in... experienced and honest judges are likely the best way to go. Say, you have a grower who everyone knows and respects, and for some reason they didn't grow that year, or all their pumpkins went down... Or another grower who used to grow but for health reasons is no longer active, but will attend the weighoff. I would bet that a lot of communities will have people like this. Age, experience, and integrity are what we should look for.

If someone wants to give an HD award to a field pumpkin, I'm sorry but they don't have the experience or understanding to be a judge!

I can say that I totally respect the judges at my weighoff (and I'm not even sure who they were.) One year I lost, barely, and I felt that I should have lost. Last year I won, and I felt that I barely should have won. Sometimes it doesn't work out this well, and we can be grateful when it does.

12/3/2014 11:24:18 AM

nOVA sCOTIA

reminds me of the trophy buck mounted on the wall that was shot with a light at night. If it wasn't earned honestly a trophy of any kind would never enter my home!!!!!!

12/3/2014 11:26:56 AM

San Diego

In sports or a hobby, I was told good advice once. Never compete in a sport where the winner is a made on a subjective decision, only compete in something where you know who wins by the score. As we all know, politics play a role in any hobby or sport. Just remember, it's only a pumpkin and have fun doing your best with a good attitude!

12/4/2014 12:54:04 AM

Home of happy lil plants

"three things to never discuss with people... religion, politics, and the great pumpkin"

we have officially combined the last two so I am out of this one and will grow the ugliest pumpkin ever next year so there is no debate on the hda for me

12/4/2014 2:04:46 AM

Rhode Island

luke its a lot more than a pumpkin. its the integrity,honor and fairness of a select group of judges.thats the theme of darrens post????
who wins may very well be trivial to some judges but, i can tell you its not to someone like darren, who felt his entry was judged unfaily.that was my point.
pap

12/5/2014 12:24:48 PM

Massachusetts

When Billy Martin came storming out of the dugout because his base runner was called out at second base, he really didn't expect the umpire to reverse his decision. He was really trying to influence the next decision at second base. I would apply that logic here. Ask your GPC rep to send a polite note to the organizers with a reminder of the rules and about how to judge the HDA with a mention of fairness and unbiased judges. Maybe even ask the same GPC rep to be present next year.

12/5/2014 1:18:12 PM