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Mill Bay, British Columbia

I'm sure it is somewhere on the GPC site but I can't find it right now. Could someone explain the criteria (rules if you like) around the Heavy Hitter Club, as I am anticipating some possible new entries to the club this year based on what I see so far.

Thanks/Glenn

8/7/2015 5:30:44 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

You need to weigh 3 sound fruit for a total weight. If they are all pumpkins, they need to be weighed at individual sites unless one of your fruit is a squash, then you can weigh a pumpkin and squash at one site and use the 2 fruit total weight, then go to another site with another fruit to make the 3.
That's going from memory and the rules could have changed since I left the GPC

8/7/2015 6:25:39 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Dave, spambi, Glenn,,,,,,, going to be some good weights up there this year!

8/7/2015 6:33:38 PM

Home of happy lil plants

they will just weigh a watermelon as their 3rd fruit shhh

8/7/2015 6:44:36 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks Eddy, but we have only one GPC event in British Columbia. Could a grower not have his official entry and then 2 sound exhibition fruit also weighed?

Other than that, it would force a grower to travel to 3 different sites...is that what everyone does?

8/7/2015 8:10:04 PM

New Richmond WI

yes ;)

8/7/2015 8:40:05 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

Your not too far from a few Washington weigh offs. you may have to do that.
My closest second weigh off is yours Glenn lol But I'm going to probably go to Colorado so I can watch the wizzzz Squirm and cry like a little baby lol

8/7/2015 10:01:48 PM

Ham Lake, Minnesota

Three different sites doesn't help things when local shows fold up and what's left is doubled up on a weekend. Three sound fruit weighed up under a gpc banner event should be enough.

8/7/2015 11:45:20 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

EXB pumpkins weighed at an official site must count towards this contest. To go extreme, say a grower in India can only travel to one weighoff but he/she has 3 pumpkins to put on the same certified scale they should be in!

8/8/2015 1:42:39 AM

Muddy Waters

Go Glen Go!! I hope you hit the 5100 club

8/8/2015 7:03:36 AM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

3 fruit 3 weigh offs anyone who wants it has to travel..

8/8/2015 9:44:48 AM

canal winchester ohio

After reading this I feel lucky to be in Ohio
GPC weigh offs
Ohio State Fair -- 12 miles
Oakland Nursery-- 18 miles
Hamilton -- 98 miles
Canfield-- 168 miles
Non GPC
Circleville -- 16 miles

8/8/2015 9:51:13 AM

Peosta, Iowa

Wisconsin growers, is there any pre registration for your sites? I live in the Dubuque,IA area and have only been to Anamosa, going to be pretty close to that 4000 # Mark if they all survive

8/8/2015 10:01:16 AM

Partlow,Va

Thats just great!!!!

The south gets crapped on again. It's not a fair rule and should be changed. Everything is against you growing here and now this ....I never complain about the challenge of growing here ....The top 3 kins in Virginia EVER total 3400lbs...Not to be not rewarded for something because of a rule like this isn't fair. 3 different sites is terrible for me. I ain't driving 22hrs round trip for a jacket. Please don't tell me for MG you have to use multiple sites too.

8/8/2015 10:38:12 AM

Partlow,Va

I can't believe a EXH kin that has been inspected at a weigh-off doesn't count for your 3rd kin. I have to skip the Va state fair 45 minutes from the house so I can it make 2 GPC events.I don't know
I would LOVE to be able to go to many weigh-offs.

8/8/2015 10:44:50 AM

Wixom MI.

Is their money involved for getting into a 4000 or 5100 club ? If not, then why shouldnt an exibition pumpkin count ? That is just crazy to have to drive a 1000 miles to just be in a club without a payout ?

8/8/2015 12:03:46 PM

Tinykinville

Pcaspers only pre registration is just an hour or two before each weigh off. If you join wgpg no fee either.so come on up all are welcome.

8/8/2015 12:55:38 PM

having 3 separate pumpkins at 3 sites also add towards grower of the year I went to morgan hill california and half moon bay plus Anamosa to get 4500 lb patch

8/8/2015 1:32:38 PM

Torrance, Ca.

How many miles was that round trip?

Your a sick man! Lol

8/8/2015 1:43:55 PM

Peosta, Iowa

Thanks, pumpkin jam. I will look into joining! Probably try making a couple

8/8/2015 1:58:17 PM

Wixom MI.

Is their a continental USA pumpkin patch. Goes to anyone who goes to every weigh off site in the USA ! Don i think that you could do it !!! Lol... :0)

8/8/2015 2:11:57 PM

Weatherman

Life isn't fair either.

8/8/2015 3:27:08 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Well, I am going to need to hear from a GPC official as I still don't see it anywhere that to qualify you must attend 3 different GPC sites.

We are the only GPC site in our Province and trying to encourage as many pumpkins and growers to our event as possible by bringing multiple fruit.

I'm not gonna call it unfair but certainly making a person travel thousands of miles to achieve a goal or get some recognition in their chosen endeavour, seems a bit of a hassle and not really that well thought out....your only recognized as being in the Heavy Hitter Club if you grow 3 giant pumpkins in your home State or Province with a local recognized GPC Event, you gotta travel....seems goofy.

8/8/2015 5:04:37 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Me, I can only grow 2 pumpkins and there is no category for me to enter, I am asking for the other growers who want to bring multiple pumpkins to our GPC Event and have them qualify in their 3 pumpkin total.

8/8/2015 5:07:31 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I may get 2 pumpkins to total 2500 lbs.....I don't need a jacket or patch or a chest to pin it on....lol...

8/8/2015 5:08:41 PM

Wixom MI.

I figured that the only reason for growers to go to multiple sites was to win as much prize money as they could, not to claim or to be in a 4000 club ?

8/8/2015 5:24:05 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

Glenn
It is actually about as fair this way as it can be
Not sure where the GPC guys are but probably busy so I will try and explain
Anyway why 3 sites Well if I went to a weigh off and had 1 fruit that weighed 1450 lbs Then I found out you finished 7th because the 2 growers ahead of you had 3 fruit each, then the 8th, 9th and on and on would all be pissed.

Also Glen it is in the rules, not under the 4000 lb club but under the general rules where it says the GPC will only recognize 1 fruit's official weight, no matter how many you enter. Again for fairness to all growers.

8/8/2015 9:37:08 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

Dam need an edit button
GPC will recognize 1 fruit as an official weight per each grower

8/8/2015 9:38:56 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

lol GPC will recognize 1 fruit as an official weight per each grower per site edit

8/8/2015 9:39:41 PM

Western NY

Eddy has been correct in his explanation.

The rules for this award can be found here:

http://gpc1.org/index.php/join-gpc/site-fees-and-prize-structure

The pertinent wording: ".... The GPC will recognize the top three official fruit entered at a minimum of two separate sanctioned GPC events, providing the two fruit weighed at the same event are one pumpkin and one squash. "

I believe this will be the 10th year of this award and to my knowledge, there have not been any growers adversely affected by the requirements where they would have otherwise qualified. We do have some isolated sites - Japan, New Zealand, Australia, ect. come to mind and I could foresee making a limited exception in one of those cases.

8/8/2015 10:16:00 PM

Muddy Waters

I think it's good to keep it the way it is . If someone brings 3 big Kins to one site . Then does this year after year the local sites will die.the new growers won't stand a chance and loose hope.Plus the GPC could go broke buying coats.There is money involved . The GPC Goty pays out for top 5 spots every year .

8/8/2015 10:39:30 PM

Streator ,Illinois

I think the rule is a joke , I do not have the time or weekends off to run around to 3 events, most events you can only enter 1 for the prize money , so what does it matter to get weights on your other pumpkins to be included in 4000 lb club or grower of the year, you grew them , so if one was to enter a pumpkin and it was to weigh 1500 lbs and your sound exh pumpkin was to weigh 2400 would you be up for what GPC exh pumpkin of the year patch ?
Glen hear what you are saying!
Gene

8/8/2015 11:47:34 PM

NE Arkansas

Well here in the real world of the south and the land of 100 degrees and heat indexes over 110... is there or can we get a watermelon heavy hitters club? Cause my kin state record is 690 and as I've found out why this year that there's a reason for that low number...

8/9/2015 2:04:04 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks Eddy and Andy for the reply and answers. Looks like the North Shore Boyz and friends will be visiting perhaps Washington State, Oregon and as far south as California.

8/9/2015 2:54:42 AM

Muddy Waters

There should be exceptions for isolated areas,where its nearly impossible to make it happen.

8/9/2015 7:06:00 AM

East Jordan, MI

Ok, here is my 2 cents.

I certainly see that limiting a person to one pumpkin per site is to keep someone from taking top 3 prizes or pushing others to a lower place. BUT if you read the question, it asks if EXHIBITION (which means to me they are official weights but not eligible for prize money or place at that weigh off) pumpkins count toward the 4000 (or higher) club.

That is a separate recognition. Why would they NOT count? They are official weights, and they didn't cause anybody to get shoved down the line at the weigh off. Why would the GPC penalize the person for not attending more than one weigh off? As it is stated on here by more than one person, many places don't have multiple weigh-offs within a reasonable driving distance and some that do are on the same weekend.

8/9/2015 8:03:41 AM

Wixom MI.

Well said cntryboy my thoughts exactly !!!

8/9/2015 8:19:29 AM

Muddy Waters

Sounds good Cecil and makes sense . Butt!Can the GPC afford all these coats? Or is it time to raise the bar ?

8/9/2015 8:35:53 AM

Partlow,Va

I never ever thought about being able to get any coat or award until just recently and I thought the total was 4500lbs. But I am having such a special year going I thought I could be the first in the south to get a 1500lber...or 2 :)! I know it is a long way to go still but I have 4 kins beating last years state record so now I am thinking 4500 is doable with some luck??

It is no big deal(but I guess it is to me)about the rule but it doesn't help us or promote growing in non-pumpkin states. It does the opposite. I really wondered 4 years ago why there wasn't (and still aren't) any Va growers on BP but it is easy to see now. The growing conditions are only the half of it...no weigh-offs,clubs,patch tours,comradery,etc. I am jealous of you with the great clubs and good luck to everyone this year.

8/9/2015 9:42:16 AM

East Jordan, MI

hank
it all starts with one person. Be successful, spread the word, help get others started.

8/9/2015 9:53:32 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks Cecil for clarifying my point and that is exactly what I am saying, I appreciate you chiming in. We are the only game in town and my buddy Spambie is likely to have 10 or 11 pumpkins this year over 1000lbs.

Our weighoff encourages growers to bring as many pumpkins as possible, and yes only 1 pumpkin per family is eligible for prize money so other growers don't get screwed by one super grower like Scott who would likely make a clean sweep.

Anybody that takes 3 sound pumpkins to a GPC weighoff (especially when it's the only one in your entire State or Province) should be eligible for the recognition.

8/9/2015 11:23:21 AM

Germany

@ North Shore Boyz: Only one pumpkin per family? Even if two or more members of that family kept their individual grower diaries, so that the history of each of their pumpkins could be tracked and each pumpkin could be identified with ONE grower? Even if father and son lived in two different towns or at least grew their pumpkins in different patches? How about members of a family which cannot be identified as easily because of different names (father and daughter, but daughter is married, lives next door to daddy and she grows her pumpkins next to the kins of her dad in the same patch)?

8/9/2015 11:37:51 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Relax....and don't try and call me out in a public forum when a different topic is being logically discussed.

My wife and I are "team growers" and we enter 2 pumpkins at our weighoff. We are only eligible for 1 prize even if our pumpkins are the 2 heaviest there. I believe most weighoffs have similar rules.

8/9/2015 11:46:11 AM

Germany

Sorry, never meant to offend you, and I´m aware that my question did not belong to the topic of this thread (therefore I addressed this question to you, because I didn´t want to interrupt the other parts of the discussion, nor did I want to start a new thread...next time I better send an email). For those who see themselves as "team growers" this rule is perfectly fine.

8/9/2015 11:54:17 AM

N.c.

What if a heavy hitter was one who could submit three eligible fruit with an average weight which would be 3/4 or better of their state/province record?

8/9/2015 12:51:25 PM

Glosta

All this for a jacket, seems like the reason for growing is getting lost somewhere.

8/10/2015 4:53:42 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Cecil is right...It is the spirit of the rule to help support other weigh off sites, perhaps that site gets to see a BIG ONE, bigger than a what can normally grow in that states climate.... For Instance when Kevin Marsh and BIG Buck Jim came down to Colorado and delighted us with our first 1500 pounder and a watermelon size never before seen.....
We have 5 weigh offs this year in Colorado... Bring us your fruit...Some big oneZ.... Im not loosing too much sleep IceWadZ....Bring it.... Ill be ready.

8/10/2015 10:21:02 AM

Mulino, Oregon

The 'spirit' of the GPC jacket & patches etc.. is aimed at those individuals being able to support multiple GPC events, not just for the 'total weight'. So we are rewarding the 'effort' as much as we are rewarding the accomplishments. We have 106 sites world wide in 2015 so hopefully you can find some additional events close to your area to weigh your pumpkins.

8/10/2015 12:10:14 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

I think Bry got it right! Never thought about the rest. backyarders are in in for PB and the town loves a big pumpkin! GrowEmBig! Chuck

8/10/2015 6:30:51 PM

Stanwood, Washington

Glenn, we have a weigh off in Mt. Vernon Washington that is just 82 Miles, 133KM from Vancouver. I know people who commute farther than that to work every day. I don't think the border is that big of a deal. Mauricio brings pumpkins down every year.

8/11/2015 12:47:29 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks Matt. I'll just tell the Boyz that we gotta do a road trip...

8/11/2015 1:25:08 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Road TripZ are good... Yo Glen..hitch a ride with IceRoidZ...to Colorado... He will have plenty of room in the bed of that BIG truck >> since he iZ making a trip, we want to see BIG pumpkin from BC

8/11/2015 10:35:47 AM

Stanwood, Washington

We would love to have you! I am thinking of doing a road trip to Oregon this year. maybe next year I can come up your way.

8/11/2015 12:29:29 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

I know Utah added a second weighoff for this purpose. That's right, one club, two weighoffs. Someone who wants this accomplishment would STILL need to travel to the Bay area or somewhere similarly far to qualify.

8/11/2015 6:08:46 PM

Partlow,Va

I need tires on the truck anyway.... and my 300lb squash just became more important lol. Possibly I could do 2 kins and a squash at 2 sites is an option.
Thanks Northshore for starting this thread its good to know the rules just in case I get lucky.

8/12/2015 10:04:27 PM