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Deer Park WA

Not trying to stir up a big controversy with this post, just wondering what you all think regarding where you take your biggest pumpkin. Do you take it to your local clubs main weigh off that maximizes site weights or to an out of state weigh off that has a higher pay out? I for one owe a lot to my awesome club (the PGVG) and will bring my biggest to there premier event (Baumans Farms) to show them my loyalty and support.

9/17/2017 11:56:49 PM

Ohio

It's good when growers still support their non GPC county fairs or festivals. Some of these weigh-offs have been around for decades.

9/18/2017 7:34:32 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Good question. Sometimes you roll the dice and win, other times you lose. Last year I had a decision to make about my field pumpkin, Anamosa only pays a $100 gift card to a local store but Pawnee City pays $300. So I took my second best to Anamosa and got 2nd place, $50 gift card. I could have won that one. I took my best to Pawnee City knowing it had a stem split that didn't go into the cavity. It would have won first at either weigh-off, but by the time for judging, the split opened up and it was ruled damaged. My second best would have tied for second there, winning $150. It ended up costing me a 1st place ribbon and $200. That is the chance you take sometimes.

9/18/2017 7:59:28 AM

Torrance, Ca.

I was taught by a guy that wins Baumans often to try and always bring your biggest to your local weigh off.

There's nothing like supporting your local weigh off with your biggest fruit!

9/18/2017 9:12:41 AM

Wixom MI.

The truth is, if someone has what they beleive is a winning fruit, almost everyone will jump ship like rats fleaing a sinking ship to win the big money !!! (0: that being said most of the top growers are growing 3-5 competetive fruits and end up suporting many weighoff sites. Here in michigan our 1st place prize is only $500 but we still have one of the highest top 10 averages in the country!!! So even with the low payout we still have a great suport showing at our site.

9/18/2017 10:00:21 AM

Flat Rock, Michigan

I heard a good story from a friend that said you have to dance with the person that brought you to the party. Which I think is so true.

9/18/2017 10:02:03 AM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

I feel local is best.. I don't grow pumpkins for the money.. sure it's nice however there is more to life than money... I unloaded 4 kins for my local weigh off I feel it's better to ensure a good amount of pumpkins for the sponsors of that event. Other events will probably just see one from me.

9/18/2017 10:28:59 AM

Colorado

Id call it contest loyalty vs. go for the dough.The west coast has that since Calif. has the biggest money contests and the tradition of PNW Growers coming down to compete for it. Also bubba going to Ohio valley :) is highly entertaining for us in the peanut gallery...

9/18/2017 11:33:42 AM

Colorado

Our club in Colorado doesn't support one contest so its more about contest loyalty than club loyalty..

9/18/2017 11:40:09 AM

Dillonvale, Ohio

My plan was and will be, to take what ever pumpkin is growing the least when it's time to cut. I'll do that for each pumpkin and weigh-off I go to. Of course, those plans could change depending on how easy it is to get to the slow growing pumpkin

9/18/2017 9:11:29 PM

Cornelius, Oregon

Go local Gads, although I would like to win Half Moon once, cause I still have a score to settle with that dang scale down there. If I have a pumpkin that is still growing like gangbusters, I may hold it for a later weighoff or the last weighoff but only to beat a personal best not necessarily go for more money.

9/18/2017 9:49:16 PM

Weatherman

Cojoe he said he was never coming back to Ohio because he wasn't welcome, I guess money talks, Bull sh*t walks. Lol!

9/19/2017 11:09:13 AM

Littlerock, WA

I don't think it necessarily has JUST to do with club loyalty or money. Certain events are a national stage, with a long tradition, and winning them would be a dream-come-true for any grower. Sometimes if a grower manages to produce a once-in-a lifetime pumpkin, and their dream is to go to a big-time weigh-off, it isn't fair to assume that they are simply motivated by the money, nor is it right to assume they aren't loyal to their local events or club. Sometimes if you're lucky enough to grow one that'll compete on a national stage, you just need to follow your dream, roll the dice and go for it and not have to worry that people are back home judging you.

9/19/2017 12:59:04 PM

Grittyville, WA

Local weigh offs are fun & it's too bad Washington state doesn't have it's own big money competition.

9/19/2017 5:28:36 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I would love to have a big enough one to take to half moon bay. Ibwould consider one of my local weighoffs (stillwater) to be national prestige event... but if some decade I should happen to grow a monster ..west coast here I come. It is not a question of loyalty..it is a question of which dream seems bigger..local weighoff or one far away. For me it is HMB.

9/19/2017 5:38:34 PM

Grittyville, WA

If we had a site that was more prestigious with more traditional significance. But a tradition has to start somehow. It will be too bad if our first 2k pumpkin is weighed out of state and beaten!

9/19/2017 5:50:31 PM

Grittyville, WA

But on the other hand, it's admirable to take a risk to follow a dream...

9/19/2017 5:55:51 PM

SW Ohio

There are plenty of ways a grower can support their local club.
You can work the weigh off.
You can buy seeds at the club's auction.
You can speak/work the winter meeting.
You can volunteer to collects seeds for the clubs auctions. Donate seeds. Etc, etc.
Now if you do any of the above and you don't bring your biggest fruit to your local weigh off, you are not supportive and loyal? You bring a nice fruit to your local weigh off but its not your biggest so it doesn't count I guess?
I don't get that at all.

9/19/2017 6:14:47 PM

Woodward, Oklahoma

It's not always about the money. You all know what we win hardly makes up for what we put in money and time. Most of us do it for the glory. I will stay local until I have a state record then I will find a bigger event to go to.

9/20/2017 6:16:31 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Yup, its about supporting your club/
weigh off.:)
Giving back to the venue\location that has open the doors for our pumpkin day! Bringing them your biggest fruit and not your second or third biggest.

9/20/2017 6:29:07 PM

Hanson Ma

Let's face it we all want to win. We all know what it takes to get to the end. A payoff once in awhile would be awesome. I spent the most money I've ever spent this year and came up nil. Again. Yes if I thought I could get a big pay out I would go for it. I love my clubs. I buy from actions and I work every weigh off we have. And would do anything they asked. That's support and it can bring potential growers to our clubs. So I don't think going for a big payout means you don't support your club. And it may give someone else a chance to win a payout that they didn't think they would get. To find out you actually got tenth place and got 50 bucks could be the thing that keeps someone going for next year. That actually happened to me this year. Thought I was 11th and came in tenth. Takes the sting out of a total loss for the year. Support your club the best you can. But if you have a chance at some money and bring attention to your club. Go for it.

9/20/2017 7:27:13 PM

Hanson Ma

Also smaller weighoffs are blown away if you can bring the biggest pumpkin they have ever had that supports the whole sport we love.

9/20/2017 7:30:02 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

There is a limit to club loyalty. With some of the weigh offs paying up to $30,000 for first place there is no reason to take that a potential pumpkin of that size to a weighoff that pays $500-$1000 first place. If it really bothers you..donate that $30,000 that you won to the club...i think they might forgive you bringing your second best.

9/20/2017 7:52:01 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Well said Mike,,, I see both sides.!

If could ever get a big one I might just have to travel with it.:)

9/20/2017 8:05:07 PM

Massachusetts

with bragging rights going to the club with the biggest top 10 average. and clubs offering 30,000 top prize, I guess in effect you could "buy" that award from the gpc with the offer of such a big purse. with that said, if your after the money then do so. but if your in it for fun then support your club. I always use the analogy if you golf as a hobby do you expect the cart fees, membership fees , greens fees and the cost of your clubs back at the end of the season? but if you want to treat pumpkin growing as a business then do so, its your choice, have fun......

9/20/2017 10:42:44 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

The GPC offers an incredible prize for 3 AG's at 3 different weigh-off's that total over 4K#'s!! If pkns are still growing b/4 your local, early weigh-off, would you pull your largest (still gaining weight) to take to your local, or let it grow to try & meet this incredible achievement level? Okay the incredible prize is a leather jacket!! How many have one of those?

9/22/2017 3:39:36 AM