From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Knopp, Germany

Where is the GPC with its stance on how the German and European weigh offs are being run? Are they verifying that you can have a "pre-weigh off" "GPC certified" without prize money and a public weigh off one or two hours later with prize money that includes previously weighed pumpkins?

Either their silence is a sign of supporting the practices that I have noted, or they are hoping that I will just go away.

Hoping everyone's pumpkins go heavy, um but only one time.

8/27/2017 11:32:28 AM

Knopp, Germany

And you know what, if the GPC does not say something then.....game on!

If we don't get a response from the GPC then let the pumpkins go where they want, when they want, as often as they want.

I am having a very good year, best ever, not a couple of WR pumpkins but for sure the best I have ever grown by 400 to 500 pounds, I'll make a European tour...LOL

8/27/2017 12:00:55 PM

Central NY

Nice Owen!!!!...keep em goin!!...

8/27/2017 12:05:10 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Most of these topics get talked about by email, phone calls or person to person.

Not on messages board from what I know.

8/27/2017 12:23:09 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

It seems to me to be a fine line. As I understand the gpc rules pumpkins are allowed to be weighed at only one gpc competition. It sounds like the first weigh at the weighoff you are referring to is the gpc event. I may be wrong but I don't know of any gpc rules concerning what happens to a pumpkin after the gpc weigh. As long as the second weighing is not gpc listed I dont see how gpc rules affect it.

8/27/2017 12:44:30 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I'd love to see someone show up at our weigh off with a pumpkins that's already been weighed at another event.

This would be really hard the way weigh offs are around here and just about all of know each other.

8/27/2017 12:59:37 PM

Knopp, Germany

So.Cal.Grower here also.

8/27/2017 1:07:04 PM

Knopp, Germany

I was trying to make a sad funny because there are growers out there seriously waiting for the GPC to make a post.

To clarify my weigh off year. I will be taking all of my pumpkins to a weigh off that does not support pre weighing concept, the ones I pick as not for competition will be EXH, but that is the only way I can get them into the GPC data base.

because I will not go to the German weigh off I will lose 2 weeks of growing, but I will have my integrity.

8/27/2017 1:12:54 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Owen, Really we get the point... As the former GPC VP The rules are solid IMO... You can't re-weigh a fruit from a prior competition... The verification you speak of is up to the growers and local judges.... Every single grower has the right to challenge any fruits eligibility until it hits the scale... After that time your a complainer.... So what are You?

8/27/2017 1:13:05 PM

Knopp, Germany

Here we go again.

Another attack at me.

Are you guys trained in urban combat?

This has been going on for years.

I did voice my concern.

Jesus, what do you not understand?

8/27/2017 1:21:55 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Again we get the point... complaining about something that happened years ago is not achieving anything...

8/27/2017 1:27:26 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Pick up the phone and call Ian P

8/27/2017 1:28:12 PM

Knopp, Germany

And as if I really have to answer your question about what I am. I am the one person that has decided to speak up and not allow the GPC with all its money take over our, yes "our" hobby, not the GPCs hobby. It is not about money, it is about fun. The GPC has stolen that from us.

I talked about how the GPC stole the WR pumpkin from Bavaria a few years ago. That seems to have been lost in the conversation.

Question- When was the European weigh off registered that year?

Answer- Well into the growing season once it was noted that Beni had a big one growing. "Months" after the registering deadline.

Question- Did the European GPC Member get a message from me that this was not correct?

Answer- Yes, within hours after he posted on the cray grower forum that the European weigh off would be GPC recognized I complained.

So I guess I am a grower that has supported the GPC from its beginning only to be spotted as a complainer.

8/27/2017 1:42:31 PM

Knopp, Germany

Pick up the phone and do what?

So you show up, hit me in the head from behind. and then you tell me to call another person.

what has happened to our hobby?

8/27/2017 1:46:23 PM

Ontario, Canada.

OK theres the truth... Now, your complaining about Beni... Different topic altogether.... LOL....

In case you haven't been following the GPC has very little funds and or resources... The GPC sets rules and is only a Governing body of the weigh-off sites... There never has been a registration deadline... The committee always strived to have sites reg. early to allow for proper planning and shipping of awards... However who is to say that Ian and his felows could not add a new wiegh-off site in my backyard... As long as its open to all growers who want to come thats allowed... Sorry you carry such deep grudge...

8/27/2017 1:58:20 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Owen... Yes, Weigh off sites compete for pumpkins... In some areas of North America the competition is aggressive and this drives up prize money... Many sites offer bonuses at the last minute for a rumoured world record... So whats the prob?

8/27/2017 2:06:29 PM

Knopp, Germany

I am not complaining about Beni, you put those words out there. I am complaining about the GPC that allowed that weigh off to occur as a GPC sanctioned weigh off.

You are wrong, there has always been a registration deadline.

Do you as a previous VP of the GPC really know the GPC governing rules?

8/27/2017 2:38:50 PM

Knopp, Germany

On top of that, there was one, yes one GPC allowed pumpkin at the same weigh off when Beni Broke the 2000 barrier, so second pace. did he get any7 prize money? No.

I am fighting for him. Not me.

8/27/2017 2:49:25 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Owen, the deadline you refer to is for submitting reg fees and avoiding late fees... It is not a hard date for determining a weigh off sites location... How did the GPC steal anything, Your written words above.... Beni choose where to take his pumpkin.... Your statements are false and at this time they are FAKE NEWS.... Enough is enough... Back to growing pumpkins...

8/27/2017 2:53:18 PM

Knopp, Germany

no.

8/27/2017 3:08:37 PM

Knopp, Germany

you are wrong.

8/27/2017 3:08:53 PM

Ontario, Canada.

The GPC does not dictate local prize money awards as it is a governing body... If the site choose to offer only 1st prize money thats up to them...

8/27/2017 3:08:57 PM

Ontario, Canada.

LOL.... Pretty sure this is the correct information...Kens gonna have to remove this.

OK, Owen.... Take it to the world court of opinnion...

8/27/2017 3:14:26 PM

Knopp, Germany

Why would Ken remove this?

Are you speaking for the GPC?

8/27/2017 3:24:53 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Remove because its nonsense.... Why would I speak for the GPC? I speak for the greater good of the Commonwealth and the growers of the GVGO, Canada and the World, Owen.

OMG, you sure can Twist, twist, twist.

8/27/2017 4:20:50 PM

Deal With It

Why should Owen handle this by e-mail?

Because you fear the public embarrassment of the dirty little secrets of the GPC?

8/27/2017 4:26:01 PM

Ontario, Canada.

What is dirty? Owen is correct re-weighing was a problem in Germany. No one on the committee supported it back then.

8/27/2017 4:43:48 PM

Nova Scotia

And no one does now period .let's end this now What ever happened happen. we need to move ahead not back

8/27/2017 8:04:07 PM

Central NY

Take those dull orange ones and shine em real good with rag...no one will know...

8/27/2017 9:31:43 PM

3430 Tulln/Austria/Europe

I am there in Ludwigsburg for years at that very weigh off.
The thing is, that there was one competition years ago, a non GPC, with the growers pumpkins, who can efford it to make the journey to LB with their weighed AGs and others with non-weighed ones. Then they decided to be a GPC WO with weighed and non-weighed AGs. Then a TV station wanted to broadcast the WO. I thinks this is a great opportunity to promote our loved hobby. But thats not the point.
THE POINT IS, that never one pre-weighed AG was listed on a GPC or bp.com list!!!
Yes, we do make a show for TV, and yes we do weigh pre-weighed pumpkins but all pumpkins on GPC list will be weighed once at that competion. Believe me or not.
Everybody who is complaining about what is happening there is invited to have a beer with me and make one´s own opinion there.
The master of ceremony ther is Stefan Hinner, and I informed him about the certain issues there.

8/28/2017 12:21:52 PM

Lymington UK

Owen
I have no intention of getting into a slanging match with you or anyone else and putting that post on your diary is way below the belt.
I'm extremely happy that I have put more into this sport than most. When Stuart and I hosted the Big show so that European growers got a chance to meet our freinds from across the pond. I didnt see you there.
Although we don't always get it right the GPC is always striving to do it's best for fair competition for all our growers.
I have been on the committee for many years and I have always taken complaints very seriously. In all that time I have never had one complaint form you.
It's a pity you think posting one of my diary entries will cause more grief especially as I know so many people follow it every Monday.
Ian

8/28/2017 2:59:30 PM

Knopp, Germany

I was wrong with my diary post. I apologize.

I should not have done it but I did. It was the wrong way to solicit a response from you on this matter and I want to let all growers know it was not the proper thing to do.

I hope that the matter of having a GPC event recognize already weighed pumpkins is not lost due to my bad judgement.

8/29/2017 10:05:52 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

I have sent a request into Ken to list each years weigh off events also by grower listing the submitted BP info in alphabetic grower name order. Its Ken's busiest time of the season. This way one could see all the GPC Growers efforts at the weigh offs and their weights. Would be a great way to show off Growers efforts and weigh offs attended. Still takes grower integrity and honesty if the fruit was entered previously at a non GPC event.

8/29/2017 4:16:14 PM

Knopp, Germany

I am glad to see that you are being proactive WiZZy. Though what you will not find in your research is that growers are drawn to the German and European weigh off by the prize money only to be disappointed that growers that have been to other weigh offs receive the prize money.

I am having such a hard time that other growers do not see this as wrong.

I guess I am just wrong and that I should except this practice.

Yes, it may be true that only the newly weighed pumpkins are reported to the GPC, but to advertise this weigh off as a GPC weigh off is a disservice to those that bring new pumpkins.

Look at 2014, there were only 2 GPC pumpkins (first time weighed) but the second one did not get second place money.

Is that really the GPC intent?

8/30/2017 12:47:28 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

We will be discussing this topic at our next meeting in two weeks.

8/30/2017 1:05:23 PM