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Lexington, Ky

Over the many years that I've grown, I've seen it happen. Sometimes I have doubt, other times it's obvious that the kid did in fact grow the entry. Either way, it hasn't been a big deal until now....

I have decided not to grow in 2018 however, my two sons ages 12 and 15 want to grow. They not only want to compete against each other, they want to try and beat Dads personal best...lol. To top that off, each wants to grow 5 of the 7, aiming for Master Gardener status. We have plenty of new ground so they'll have all the space necessary and it will be relatively weed free in 2018.

I admire their ambition and I will support them financially however, rules are rules, Dad cannot (and will not) help out except for advice. Both boys have helped me sporadically over the years but they really dug in this year, probably doing as much as 50% of the work. It was not uncommon this year to get a surprise jolt when one of them fired the tiller up without being prompted.

They only thing that I've never allowed them to do and most likely won't allow in 2018 is spray chemicals. I intend to set them up with "friendly" weapons for bugs, disease and weeds.

So here is my question, what does it take for you as a grower and potential competitor to believe that a kid is responsible for his/her entry(s)?

If you were a parent asking me this question I would at a minimum want to see a diary. I would also like for the kid to be able to answer some questions at the weigh off. Thoughts?

11/14/2017 11:26:42 AM

Dillonvale, Ohio

I will be watching this thread closely, my son is growing next year. He knows he has to be the one to do it. I will till and figure the amendments needed, but everything else is on him. I'm not sure he realizes the work needed.

11/14/2017 12:15:55 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

A diary would be great and folks can follow their progress, each one have their own diary... a great way for them to keep track of their year.... Good Luck to them

11/14/2017 12:20:25 PM

Mn

It is pretty easy - At the weigh-off, all you have to do is start asking the kids some questions about growing and how they grew them. You will be able to tell within a couple minutes if the kids did the work or if mom or dad did all the work and the kid just went and looked at the pumpkin everyday to make sure its still there.

11/14/2017 12:27:19 PM

Mn

and good luck - I hope the kiddos grow a beast!

11/14/2017 12:28:14 PM

Orient, Ohio

I think all would agree that pesticide application should be done by the parents that's just safety , I doubt anyone would argue that at a weigh off. They (kids) could even decide if an when spraying was needed and leave that choice to them even if its not the choice you would make.

11/14/2017 12:48:09 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

At the Smokie Lake weigh off we don't discriminate with age, If you grew it, you enter it. We had a clause with an age restriction, but it ended up against the GPC rules. Alan (saxomphone) on Bp, grows with his children and they know everything from genetics to growing.
I honestly don't see any issue but each weigh off has their own set of rules you should check

11/14/2017 1:03:32 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

My son started growing with me when he was 11. For safety sake, I ran the tiller and did the spraying. As he got older and his wrestling, football and cross country put muscle on him, he would do some of the "grunt" work on my part of the patch in exchange for what I did for him. Often his part was weedier than mine. We would go to the patch together, discuss pollination, weeding, spraying. He got to make decisions on his plants, even if I applied the pesticides. Sometimes he beat me, sometimes I beat him. And when it came to the weigh-off, he worked right along with the rest of the wrestling team and then marched in the parade with the middle school and high school bands. I saw no problem with a little trade-off of labor as long as he was the primary grower. And the registration form required him to sign that he was primary grower, not that he did all the work himself.

11/14/2017 5:49:37 PM

Anoka, MN

Over here we like to promote youth growing...anoka weigh-off has additional awards for youth. Just have to use the honor system and hope people are honest

11/14/2017 7:02:08 PM

SW Ohio

Personally, I dont think its fair to limit them chemical wise to youth friendly only sprays. I dont see a thing wrong with a parent stepping up and spraying chemicals when needed. Its a great way to teach them safety, too.

I think a diary is a great idea. And the ages of the kids should be the deciding factor on what jobs they can do. A 16 year old should be able to run a tiller, where a 10 year old might struggle. Regardless of age, no kid should be discouraged from growing and competing at a weigh off. Its not too hard to tell when a grower enters an extra fruit in the family members name. They stand out like a sore thumb lol

11/14/2017 8:25:05 PM

Western PA

Parents should always do the spraying in my mind. who would want their kids being exposed to any chemical ?

Best of luck boys !

11/14/2017 8:43:24 PM

Zimmerman, Minnesota

My 10 year old daughter got into it this year with me. I germinated the pumpkins but she helped with every thing except tilling. Having her weed was the toughest thing, but I did let her spray neem oil, which doesn’t work and I’ll be trying something else next year...it was my first year also, so we both weren’t sure of some things, I was probably more involved with her and her with me then we should have been but daddy/ daughter anything makes me happy because those teen years are sneaking up quickly...it didn’t matter I suppose, that I helped her because she would not cull the first 3 pumpkins and they were late pollination so she had a 43lb...87 lb... and a 212lb. That she brought to a weigh off, she won a ribbon and her friend came with and now she is going to grow a pumpkin. Getting kids involve in gardening needs to be happening, with iPads, iPhones, and Facebook they barely know what outside is. Fishing and gardening are the best things I can do with my daughter.....obviously if we both waltz in with monsters, I’m sure I would have felt like I shouldn’t have help as much. But will see how she feels in the spring, I know with some great genetics and her work ethic I think a big one is possible. Great discussion:)

11/14/2017 9:58:12 PM

Muddy Waters

I saw a 15 year old girl win Pt Elgin back in the day & her Dad took 5th place with his kin.I ask the girl what seed did you grow it from? She didn't know.lol I knew then it was a daddy kin for sure. I think if the child helps say 50% of the time would be sufficient.I dont feel 100% is needed to claim the grow.But I would also take my best & my childs best to 2 different weigh offs as to not be a prize hog.I let Jackson weigh the 803 this year to get the feel of entering one in a contest.It was too small to win money.Dont let following a perfect guideline stop you from growing with kids. Whats important is getting the kids involved at any level.There will always be cheaters it cant be enforced. GET THE KIDS IN THE PATCH if possible.

11/15/2017 7:19:31 AM

Muddy Waters

I wouldnt say take a pumpkin that would steal another growers place in the prize money & let Jack enter it.Just to make things clear here.That is wrong

11/15/2017 7:22:18 AM

Grittyville, WA

My 4 and 5 year old girls helped pick seeds out of some of the pumpkins I grew this year. They are all set for next year. I will probably have to spray and prep the ground but if they want to enter they are going to do it all this year even taking the delicate seedling out of the pot... its gonna be 100% hands off from me not gonna bury vines or water. This year I explained that the plants need fertilizer I told them one or two cups might be reasonable and let them decide, even though they are just guessing (and so am i) at least its their guess not mine...

I would help them adjust their pumpkin though if needed there is no way they would be able to do that. And yeah they can cut it off the vine and help move it but they cant load the thing or drive it to the weigh-off...

11/15/2017 9:03:29 AM

Grittyville, WA

Ditto what Bubba said.

11/15/2017 9:33:21 AM

Central Illinois

If this gets serious enough maybe have them take an exam of the basic stuff, anything dangerous should be done by a guardian. If ten year olds start bring 2000 pounders something is wrong

11/15/2017 10:18:31 AM

Wi

Kid does weeding, vine burying, pruning, pollinating, “after you show them a few times they should have their pumpkin done when you get home from work.” Help with pumpkin positioning “its a 2 person job” Runs equipment if they can. My son has done all the tilling for the past 4 years but the tractor moves slow, and is also your helper if you’re growing. Grown-up takes over for all the spraying and Chemicals. Kid should know about the work that it takes, how to prune, stuff like that. At 8 my son taught my neighbors how to pollinate, now that he 13 the birds and the bees talk is a little easier LOL... Don’t think they need to know all the science stuff teach that as they go. There are a ton of grown-ups that can talk your ear off about all the things that are used and stuff they try to grow a giant, but at the end of the day they fail because the work has not been put in. As for the Cross, Well maybe, but the tell you the truth I generally am looking at the map of my garden and trying to figure out what the thing is and what my kids used to pollenate it with the day before the weigh-off. As for the age I think that’s up to the kid. Marks grandson could most likely bring his A game at 5 and grow a TONer, but he has been out in the garden learning with grandpa sense he was in diapers . Most kid can do what is takes to get #1000 or better by age 7-9 if they stick with it. At the end of the day I was trying to teach my son if your stick with something and put in all the work it takes things will usually turn out good. Just my humble opinion.

11/15/2017 5:39:42 PM

Muddy Waters

Yes teach them young but they need help as we all do at times

11/15/2017 6:16:52 PM

Elk Grove , California

This is a tough issue. I run the Elk Grove weigh-off and we consistently have 7-11 year olds entering but they do so in the future farmer category so as not to compete against the adults. We know they did little to actually grow the pumpkin but we do want to encourage them to keep growing. Many of them move into the adult category in later years.

11/18/2017 12:06:46 PM

NE Arkansas

My son grows with me. He's 10 now and helps with watering, weeding (I guess you can call it that), picking culls, plant management, I don't let him run the tiller or spray. I also did his grafts. He's learning and will sit with me while I'm grafting asking questions. I do have to help take care of his plants as I have shared custody of him (every other week). So he's with me 26 weeks a year. I don't think he or his plants should suffer because of the custody situation.

11/20/2017 11:16:39 PM

Zimmerman, Minnesota

I think if it started to become a problem a weigh-off could always make a youth division. Under 16 maybe, make $$ prizes smaller, but maybe a cool trophy.... then no one would have to feel like there helping their kid or a neighbor kid too much...bottom line is We need to help kids when very young or when just starting out, heck some of us newbies need just as much help. Kids can get frustrated or distracted a lot easier than adults (maybe), very few kids across America could grow a giant without much help unless They’ve been doing it for several years.

11/21/2017 10:10:39 PM