From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Knopp, Germany

I need to get something off my chest that I have been carrying around and that is eating me up inside. The GPC recognizes and supports unfair treatment and respect for its own rules.

Before you send me more hate email hear me out, then send the hate email.

8/23/2017 3:59:39 AM

Knopp, Germany

About 8-9 years ago we tried to have the European weigh off as a GPC event, it was obvious that it could not work as all pumpkins were previously weighed. So we did not enter that weigh off again as a GPC event. Three years ago late in the growing season a GPC Executive Member announced that after all those years the European weigh off was going to be a GPC event, I complained saying that there is already a GPC event the day before that weigh off (Bavaria) and that by allowing the European weigh off to be a GPC event so late was stealing the world record Meier pumpkin from the Bavaria event. I was told that sites are always late, that may be true but they are typically long standing GPC events, not a new one. Bavaria was cheated.

8/23/2017 3:59:59 AM

Knopp, Germany

At the German and European weigh offs previously weighed pumpkins get a even part of the prize money, this is how they do it. All pumpkins that have not been previously weighed are weighed without the public knowing it, and then a couple hours later they are all weighed in front of the public as if it was the first time they had been weighed, the prize money is then given out to all growers, even the previously weighed pumpkin growers. A European Executive Committee member is at the European weigh off, thus giving GPC support of this practice.

8/23/2017 4:00:16 AM

Knopp, Germany

How do I know all this? I was trapped in this ugly mess because I brought the GPC to Germany many years ago, I feel guilty for what has come of the German and European weigh offs. I stopped going to either weigh off 5 years ago because my conscience did not allow it.

I fully support the GPC rules, they are good, but money has taken over and in these cases have stolen the virtue of many good people.

8/23/2017 4:00:42 AM

Knopp, Germany

You can now send your hate email to me, my conscience is now clear.

8/23/2017 4:01:11 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

I'm having difficulty piecing together your third post. If by "previously weighed" you mean at another weigh-off, then, certainly, the pumpkins cannot be eligible at a GPC event. This rule was established to keep someone from traveling from one weigh-off to another and mopping up all the top prize money. Such a practice created a lot of bitterness among growers, for obvious reasons.

If by "previously weighed" you mean at the same weigh-off just prior to the public viewing, then I wouldn't see what difference it makes. The GPC would have to go back and look at the intent of the rule.

8/23/2017 6:46:31 AM

Knopp, Germany

you got it right the first time.

8/23/2017 8:07:48 AM

Knopp, Germany

Actually, both of your interpretations are correct, the idea about weighing them in private was to meet the GPC rules as they interpreted them, so the private weighing was considered a weigh off. then a couple of hours later they had another public weigh off and that was where the prize money was given out, which included pumpkins from other weigh offs.

8/23/2017 8:10:25 AM

Knopp, Germany

The silence is deafening. The GPC is wanting even more money and I am the only one that has the balls to call them out. Dave Stelts, Pap Wallace, Andy is your GPC a holder of the rules, or a rule breaker to benefit the GPC?

Had I not experienced what I described I would not have said a word.

Either you own it or you ignore it, and the many growers that have so much respect for the GPC are going to wonder.

If you don't respond anyone that supports the GPC ignores the facts.

8/24/2017 12:44:34 PM

New England

I have zero leg to stand on but one would think that the rules are the rules. One would expect that every weigh off site that is part of the GPC would be following the rules put before them. While I am relatively new to this hobby; I support the rule and idea that no previously weighed pumpkin can go to multiple weigh offs and collect monies. This keeps the weigh offs exciting, different, intriguing. It challenges those who grow for competition to do better amongst multiple plants.

Despite having a European Committee member at the event; perhaps the rest of the GPC committee is not aware of this ongoing issue?

Wish you the best.

8/24/2017 1:16:01 PM

Knopp, Germany

Farmergal, do you really believe the European Executive Committee member was acting alone?

I wish you the best also, think you.

8/24/2017 1:38:22 PM

Walhalla, ND.

The practice of bringing the same pumpkin to different weigh offs goes on in this area as well. I know a grower here locally that brought a pumpkin to our local pumpkin fest. He took 1st place winning $500.00 then the next weekend took the same pumpkin to Roland in Canada and placed 3rd there winning more money with the same pumpkin. I informed him it was against the GPC rules. The GPC rule states. Any pumpkin that was entered in a previous contest cannot be entered into GPC sanctioned contest. When I told him this, he didn't even care, he told me people do it all the time.

8/24/2017 10:44:50 PM

Knopp, Germany

I know Hobbit. And as long as the GPC sticks its head in the sand, and fellow growers fail to speak up nothing will change.

We know there is a problem.

Behind the scenes there are growers applauding my stance, as well as the growers and GPC supporters that wish I just go away.

I only ask you examine your souls, why do you want your kids to grow pumpkins in the future?

8/25/2017 4:41:34 PM

Central NY

i can't imagine this happens all that often...I'm alright with it if it's a non-gpc event though for the first weigh...(not that I would...I have a soul)..good lookin out though ...

8/25/2017 7:52:34 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

I haven't gotten over the " I have the courage" crap Owen, so for me you need to get over yourself. I have no dog in this fight, hate the drama.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=15&p=552852

The silence isn't deafening at all.

8/25/2017 9:51:59 PM

Knopp, Germany

So the GPC can maintain the governing rules of our hobby, that is respected all the way up to the guinness world records and allow an executive committee member to break their own rules. that is not drama, that is a fact.

You have the right to not like the way I express myself, but you can't ignore the facts.

8/26/2017 1:45:13 AM

Knopp, Germany

You know what Andy H, I am going to try to put this into perspective.

Forget this post is from me. Let's say that at some weigh off it was allowed to allow pumpkins from another weigh off and it was reported to the GPC. The person that allowed this to happen was not a GPC Executive Committee member.

I am positive that the GPC would have had something to say, my reference point is a certain pumpkin that was deemed sound at a weigh off, only to later be deemed damaged by the GPC because someone reported it.

So look past my name and just consider the facts.

8/26/2017 3:11:01 AM

Ontario, Canada

Hobbit, you should have brought it up with the Roland weigh off committee. I'm not sure of the rules they follow in ND & Manitoba, but here in Ontario, no one that I've ever met enters a pumpkin at one GPC event & then takes it to another GPC weigh off. If they were to do that, then the pumpkin would be exhibition only at the second weigh off. If the 2nd weigh off isn't GPC related, then I'm sure it's okay.
It is up to all growers to speak up if they see this crap going on. Talk to the people that run the weigh off, the judge &/or your club's executive, but don't turn a blind eye to the situation. I'm not a GPC rep, but as a grower & club rep, I would have to say something to the weigh off reps & to every grower entering the weigh off. Hopefully that would get the pumpkin DQ'd, guilt the would-be cheater into entering it as an exhibition only or to withdraw his entry.
We all must play by the same rules.

Phil & Jane Hunt
GVGO Reps.

8/26/2017 8:55:45 AM

Walhalla, ND.

I didn't enter the contest in Roland. I took 3 of my heaviest pumpkins to Minot, ND. that was held on the same weekend. I enter 1 in the contest there and listed the other 2 as exhibition only. The weekend before that I entered one of my smaller pumpkins iin the Walhalla, ND pumpkin fest taking 2nd place. I based my decision on rule #6 of the GPC rules "6) No specimen will be allowed into competition at a GPC site if that specimen has been previously entered at another competition." The rule here is pretty distinct. It states another competition period. I purposely withheld my heaviest pumpkin from the Walhalla competition to enter it into the GPC sanctioned competition in Minot based on this rule. The Walhalla pumpkin fest is not a GPC sanctioned event. But my understanding of the rule says "any competition "

8/26/2017 9:26:13 AM

Ontario, Canada

I know you understand the rule, but were you there? If not, how do you know he entered the same pumpkin? Did you see it or did the grower brag to you about doing it?
In any case, growers (even if your a spectator) must speak up loudly at these events if they see something like this, even if it's someone you know well. Our sport don't need growers cheating other growers out of a better placing, even if they cross an international border. That's like stealing from someone's wallet. Hopefully in the end, this will not be tolerated, but the only ones to make sure that doesn't happen is the growers themselves. To all growers, speak up & don't stick your head in the sand & pretend it didn't happen.

8/27/2017 8:30:28 AM

Cologne Brescia Italy

Please, let me understand, i'm tring tonfollow all this
but my bad englisch do not permit me to understab well
So, my question is:
In case my pumpkin win one of 3 italian weight off
Can it to partecipe to the european weight off in ludwisburg
I do not have a wr pumpkin non lol
Just a question!

8/31/2017 8:16:25 AM

Central NY

It could go to lufwisburg but if it was already in a contest, it can only be exhibition.,..capeesh?

8/31/2017 9:12:22 AM

Cologne Brescia Italy

Thanks now is celar

8/31/2017 9:27:49 AM