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Jericho Vermont

I remember seeing a couple of posts in the last 15 years where growers introduced themselves with their name, years growing, pb and if they choose to share the occupation they are in. I really enjoyed seeing all the information and all the varied "real jobs" that growers have. There seem to be a lot of new screen names to me and I think it may be a good time before the season diaries really kick off.

VTJohn - on BP.com since 2004 and growing giants since 1996. pb of 1297 pumpkin 135 long gourd, 5.44 tomato. Direct an Economic Development program for the State of Vermont.

4/5/2018 5:18:37 PM

Massillon, Ohio

Great idea John. Those posts were always fun. Real name to go along with BP name, and other hobbies could also be good.

Glenna Rea - growing giant pumpkins since 2006. -
personal best, 1374. - New home construction, interior & exterior design. I also enjoy photography and baking.

4/5/2018 6:01:35 PM

Princeville, IL

Joe House --growing since 2013. An Orange fanatic now after starting as a big field fanatic my first two years.
Retired agriculture teacher. Now grow 5 acres of field pumpkins, ornamental pumpkins, and Orange AG's that I sell in the fall at my retirement business - The Pumpkin Place .
PB is 995. Really want to break 1000.

4/5/2018 7:06:35 PM

New Berlin, PA

Dan Wagner. 2018 will be my fourth year growing AGs. Personal best 1501.5. I work for my County Conservation District writing conservation plans for farmers and farm programs that improve local water quality. I enjoy hunting, fishing, and collecting local antique milk bottles.

4/5/2018 7:31:44 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Mark McWilliams. Retired from SCS-NRCS after 30 years in 2013. This is my 15th year growing giant pumpkins. My personal best is 1047.5 grown in 2015. My personal best long gourd is 129", Iowa state record. When I'm not gardening, I am fishing, hunting or running errands for the family.

4/5/2018 8:09:42 PM

Bloomington Indiana

Gary May- Growing since 2011. Ag 659#, field pumpkin 119.95#, long gourd 126.5",tomato 5.40#, green squash 487#, watermelon 183# and 23#lope.

4/5/2018 9:02:39 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Shannon Engel-Been growing Giant Pumpkins since 2001. Personal Best 1374lbs. Proud Winner of Four Howard Dill Awards, and one pretty pumpkin award. My daytime job to support my pumpkin habit is a Quality Engineer for CURT Group. In the Fall my wife Jodi and I carve lots of pumpkins, look for us this fall on the Travel Channel for a show called "Best in Pumpkins". Other interests Snorkeling, Photography, Fishing and Tequila Drinking

4/5/2018 9:04:09 PM

Pittsburgh, PA

Jay Yohe - 47 years old. Wife and 2 kiddos. Boy and a girl. 2 dogs. 6 chickens. 2 turkey. This will be my 3rd year growing giant pumpkins. My biggest AG is 704.5. Biggest field pumpkin is 78. I am the controller for an advertising agency. Avid hunter. Love mountain biking but don’t get out much anymore. Former marathon runner.

4/5/2018 9:57:06 PM

Westmoreland, KS

Jacob Marintzer - Growing since 2009
personal Best, 963 - Network Administrator for the Kansas State Alumni Association

4/5/2018 10:46:13 PM

Dillonvale, Ohio

Jeff Theil, this will be my 3rd year growing. PB is 290. I'm self employed, fixing appliances, washers, dryers, refrigerators, ranges and dishwashers. Love to hunt deer and coyotes. This will be my sons first year growing.

4/5/2018 11:19:05 PM

Thomas wv

Kerry gross first time growing last year from west Virginia grew a 758.5 339 ott 15% light had a blast doing it can't wait for this year. Did not have bp my first year should be a great year and thank you for the site and and all that's helped

4/5/2018 11:19:06 PM

Zimmerman, Minnesota

Chris Brown- 37 years old married with a 10 year old daughter. Last year was my rookie year so I have personal bests in AG Pumpkin at 763 lbs. tomato at 4lbs. And wide head sunflower at 25”......I am a store manager of a Petco and I love Fishing, Friends, and Gardening!!!

4/6/2018 12:04:46 AM

Johnston, R.I.

Norm Gansert, Retired senile old man who is hooked on orange. I have been growing for about 20 years. Personal best is 1441 in 2010..... Orange Rules..

4/6/2018 4:47:41 AM

Netherlands

Brad Wursten - born in Ontario, Canada, since 1991 living in The Netherlands.
Grew pumpkins, squash and giant veg from 1988-1990 in Canada and from 2004 onwards in The Netherlands. WR squash in 2007, WR marrow in 2009 and several Euro and country records since. Specialize in members of the curcubita family.
Was a high school English teacher but because of health issues no longer able to work since 2008.

4/6/2018 4:52:37 AM

Virginia

Bob Causebrook- I just started last year with a store bought seed, and got 2-75 pounders. But learned a lot. Really think with good seeds and attention to soil that I should destroy by personal best this year. Live in Virginia, and run a little grocery store. Met some great people on BP. I'm only 52, so just starting to get the feel of things.

4/6/2018 7:15:23 AM

Cape Breton Nova Scotia

Jody Rendell from Cape Breton Nova Scotia Canada. This year will be my third year growing Giant Pumpkins. Third generation Strawberry and mixed vegetable Farmer. Personal best 957lbs.

4/6/2018 7:47:32 AM

New England

Caylei Arnold- this is my 4th year growing. My personal best is 692 pounds. I am a Production Planner/Order Management/Customer Service Rep for the world's largest Manufacturer and I am based at one of their US sites. Outside of work and pumpkins, I have 7 horses and take great pride in breeding and showing Jersey cattle.

4/6/2018 9:06:18 AM

Eastern Nebraska

Andy Ternus, 39 Y.O., outside of Omaha, Nebraska. Civil & Mechanical Engineer for a large construction company. Married, and have a 2 & 3 year old. Been on the road for the last 15 years, and finally settled down last year. Long story short, coworker said he grows large pumpkins and i started researching it to learn how to beat him, and landed squarely on this site. He started his seeds and gave me 2 plants and i asked to double check they were AG's, and he said no... Idiot. immediately berated him. If you want big, you're doing it wrong, and ordered seeds online, last minute. Got them in the ground mid June (way late as you all know), and ended up with 100 lb'er. Purchased a variety of seeds through auctions here, and going to dramatically improve this year. Learned a ton from everyone on this site, enjoy the personalities and banter amongst the group, and am addicted to the site/sport. Enjoy fishing/hunting/golf/woodworking/restoring cars when the wife and little clowns allow it, and spending time in the garden. Thanks to all of you for sharing how you do this.

4/6/2018 9:24:39 AM

NE Wisconsin

Jeff Heimke - First year growing giants - 34 year old - Business Education Teacher and High School Athletic Director. Started because my 3 year old got seeds from the Nekoosa Giant Pumpkin Drop and he expects me to grow them.

4/6/2018 9:30:41 AM

Ontario

Dan Clement 56 dairy farmed most of my days now heavy equip. operator this will be my 4th year growing AGs PB 1476lbs also enjoy antique tractor pulling , hunting and fishing and relaxing on Sunday afternoons watching nascar with a few cold ones and friends

4/6/2018 9:31:09 AM

50 Acres

Jim Hudson, 74yrs old, growing 20 + yrs.PB Pumpkin 650, SQ 750 Tall corn 20ft,LG98" Tomato 3.57 lb FP 62 lbs. My wife and I volunteer at a drop in centre for people with mental, health, and financial issues. 26 west is my 50 acre bush lot on White Lake where I hunt. Love race horses.

4/6/2018 9:38:34 AM

Chesapeake City, MD

Dave Wade -- 56 years old. 2nd year grower. Not sure of my weights last year. Maybe 400-500 lbs, but they were orange and pretty so I was happy. Gonna try a couple big seeds this year as well. General Manager of Northview Stallions. Breed Thoroughbred race horses in MD and PA. No KY Derby winner yet...but some day. Wife breeds/shows/trains Lab Retrievers. Enjoy boating, fishing, jet skis, pretty much anything on the water. Oh, yeah...and buffets.

4/6/2018 9:41:22 AM

central Nc

Josh Macy -- recently retired from Army. I WILL set a PB this year because it is my first, thanks to a couple of generous friends on here. Also working on a community garden with giants to get kids interested.

4/6/2018 9:48:02 AM

Warwood

Don Chambers- "Perriman" was a nickname. I received when a teen, long story, basically a drunk guy kept confusing me with another Don. I'm 62 yrs. young. Majored in Psych and Biology, went into Counseling and Nursing in Bahavioral health. I grew up on a dairy farm. Caught the Giant Pumpkin bug in 1994. My PB Pumpkin- 1242 back in 07, Tomato 4 lbs. 3 ozs. back in 05. Long overdue to get back in the game this year after a few years of back problems, surgery was very successful. I'm retired this year and more time to fulfill pumpkin dreams. Good Luck to all this year!

4/6/2018 10:02:48 AM

New England

@ Orange Lives Matters: No way; too cool. I have a few TB's in the back yard. Love studying pedigrees, regular reader of the DRF here, try to attend some races at Saratoga and Belmont every year. If I'm ever in the area; would love to stop in for a tour at Northview!

4/6/2018 10:09:23 AM

Hadley Ny

Tony Hoffman 61 retired. Self-employed ..My own Stamped Concrete Business for over 30 years. 3rd year growing Ags. Always had a garden and it was always stress relief from business. Retired and had more time to play and got infected with the AG Bug! Personal best 500 lbs my first year..Into BigNOrange...Spend most of my time huntin',fishin',gardenin' and a couple cocktails at the American Legion or VFW in the afternoon. I like following the ponies. Some days spent at Saratoga in the summer..only 20 miles from the track..been going there forever.

4/6/2018 10:42:27 AM

Grittyville, WA

Hi guys and gals. Brandon. Stay at home dad/ looking for work. Had a great little beekeeping business which failed. I not be active on here forever because although I really love giant pumpkins... but would be happier doing organic beekeeping. PB 462 / 1500 lbs (7 kins) on one plant.

4/6/2018 10:56:16 AM

Team Canuckle Heads

Mike DeMars. 64 years old. Wallaceburg Ontario Canada. (real close to the U.S. border at Algonac MI.) Married to the same gal for 43 years. Been growing since 2001. PB pumpkin 1015 lbs. squash 699 lbs. tomato 3.76 and LG 115 3/4". Retired last July after 45 yrs. as a tool & die maker / CAD mold designer. Looking forward to looking after my garden full time. When I'm not in the patch I enjoy fishing, NASCAR and drinking beer.

4/6/2018 11:03:05 AM

Cornelius, Oregon

Brett Cooper, AKA Brett Hester, 45, - Growing giants since 1988 - PB 1581.5, but have had the state record at one time or another for all giant vegetable classes except watermelon. World record Kohlrabi in 1995. For the old timers... the count is...Married 4 times, 12 kids or step kids, 6 pumpkin patches (but only moved the soil from one to the other twice), and no there will not be a 5th wife, unless ScarJo talks my wife into letting me have 2 at the same time. I manage commercial property, Chair the Police Advisory Board for the City of Cornelius, Play E-Sports (World of Warcraft, Guildmaster of Lawful Vengeance on Silvermoon if anyone else plays), Played Semi-pro billiards, and currently am the President of the PGVG. I still believe in trade before sales, and making friends over profit. I am a bit of a 'has been' now in the pumpkin growing world, but hoping to scale some other things back a bit and focus more on the big orange babies once the 3 year old 'Mini-Cooper' is a little older and ready to help in the Pumpkin Patch.

4/6/2018 12:38:51 PM

Colorado

Joe Scherber, 61 year old dentist.Only married twice:).One daughter two step chidren,3 cats,two dogs and three grand children. Grown since 1997-sorry gonna go file some seeds.........................................

4/6/2018 1:02:42 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Glenn Dixon, 55 and just retired. Business owner, International Trade Consulting before that, and Economic Development & Small Business in the beginning of my career. Growing since 2004, PB 1126 lbs, BC Long Gourd champ at 119.25”. Growing partner Andrea, couldn’t do this hobby without her and 1 daughter Sydney, I am a very lucky and blessed guy to have these 2 ladies in my life. New land, new community and renewed passion for growing giants. Also, need to go file some seeds.

4/6/2018 2:52:08 PM

Essex, UK

Matthew Oliver, 30. Work as a horticulturist for the Royal Horticultural Society here in the UK. This will be my third year growing giants and eigth as a professional gardener. Pumpkin PB 1498.4lb, squash 750lb. Also hold the 150sq ft record with 968lb. Hope to improve on both pumpkin and squash this year and keep defying conventional wisdom by growing outdoors here.

4/6/2018 3:24:11 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Jim Gerhardt, 40. Been growing Atlantic giants since 2005. I have 5 Howard Dill awards and 4 top squash titles. My PB is 1217 pounds.

I manage production projects for Johnson and Johnson developing new drug products. I have a 16 month old son who is truely Superman. I enjoy skiing and playing and producing music in my home recording studio.

4/6/2018 4:09:37 PM

Chesapeake City, MD

@ Farmergal, 26 West, and Big T Hoff (or anyone else that's into horses). Email me your addresses. I'll get you out some farm calendars.
davidwade27@gmail.com

4/6/2018 4:10:19 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Chris Dunn- Paining contractor, amazing wife and 5 awesome kids ( 4 boys and 1 girl )
6th year growing, personal best of 1533 and we love Jesus!:)

I was told 1500 couldn't happen this far south, well,,, 2000 this year!!!!

4/6/2018 6:01:19 PM

stoughton WI

Rick jolivette and toni howell, we live in the great state of wisconsin. we have been growing 11 or 12 yrs, 51 yrs old. Toni won't let me divuldge her age.that's ok because she helps make all this craziness alot easier. Our pb is a.g 1756 melon is 179, squash is 980 u.o.w, mater is 4.04 u.o.w, l.g is 122. I'm just a plumber that wishes he was retired so I could concentrate more on our pumpkins.good luck this season everybody!!!!

4/6/2018 6:11:33 PM

NE Arkansas

Jeremy Lindley - Federal Correctional Officer - starting growing giants in 2015. We grow commercial melons and fp also. Pb AG 416, watermelon 298.5 (state record), bg 138 (SR), lg 96"(SR), fp 76, canteloupe 53.4 lbs and tomato is 3.16. GWG board member.

4/6/2018 8:25:12 PM

Deer Park WA

Gerry Gadberry, married to the lovely and very talented giant pumpkin grower Dani. We started growing AG pumpkins in 1995 in Spokane Wa but the weather was way to harsh in spring and fall so we moved to coastal SW Wa 7 years ago. PB at the new farm was 1803 last year. Im pretty much old as dirt and work for Kaiser Permanente as a facilities ops manager (engineering). Dani retired last year and we are teaming up this year on pumpkins. She grew a pb in 2006 of 1112.5 my pb up to then was like 900#.... 5 adult kids 1 old beagle and a wore out farm cat all living on our little mini farm slice of heaven. Starting seeds in a little over a week from now.

4/6/2018 10:48:02 PM

Peosta, Iowa

Pete Caspers, started growing in 1994, this will be my 15th season in the past 24 years. I am a heavy equipment operator in the mining industry going on 17 years. I am married and have a 6 year old daughter named Alba, who helps me in the patch, my personal best Atlantic Giant is 1587 lbs, last year was my best year, grew 4 and got all 4 to the scales totaling 5,133 lbs. The 3 biggest got me my jacket! I am obsessed with growing these monsters (like most of us are), and 90% of my current friends our pumpkin growers!

4/6/2018 11:11:26 PM

churchville, ny

Tom Swain - this will be my 32nd year growing giants - pb 1338. Retired science teacher. I run Ford Farm Market (like me on facebook) where my wife Sharon and I sell 150 varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds we grow on 15 acres.
My goal is to grow the largest, dark orange, smooth giant ever for Sharon to carve.

4/6/2018 11:53:09 PM

Wisconsin

Hi im Mike, I am scorpio, I enjoy long walks on the beach, hanging out with friends and talking on the telephone.

4/7/2018 6:00:33 AM

Upa Creek, MO

The Mouth - been growing since 2010. I've never been to a weighoff and just like to grow for front yard displays and my 3 kids. Used to work for the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and the USGS specializing in Refuge land reclamation on the Missouri River and Asian Carp on the Mississippi River. Now I work in the bond market. Fishing, Herpetology, creek walkin with my boys, and anything Ozark consumes a lot of my time. Good luck to all growers this year.

4/7/2018 8:54:02 AM

Canada

Harley Sproule 75 years old from Quebec Canada.Retired dairy farmer.Growing
giant pumpkins since 1996.Got my first win at the Ottawa Canada Byward
Market in 1998. In 2004 had to make a choice milk cows or grow giant pumpkins
Chose the latter have not look back since. Have grown 3 pumpkins over 1600
pounds and 2 tomatoes over 6 pounds. Sometimes i will take the year off to
recharge my pumpkin batteries.

4/7/2018 9:19:26 AM

Mn

Chris Qualley - I sit at desk all day - I grew a carrot once - I enjoy growing AG’s in the snow - also enjoy watching antiques roadshow (the uk version) good luck everyone

4/7/2018 10:08:13 AM

Mn

Charley Carlson This will be 4th year growing giants. Have had many in the 200 to 300 over the years just growing them for the kids. Biggest is the 703OG shown with my grandson on my facebook page. Go big orange.

4/7/2018 1:33:18 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Mike, its ok that you say its your first year and you out grew all of us! lol

4/7/2018 7:01:05 PM

Partlow,Va

Hank Houston 53 year old carpenter from central Virginia. I grew up on a large farm and we live on a 46 acre place. Married a pretty gal I met in Mrs Smith's pre algebra class 34 years ago. We have two grown children; one is getting married in June and the other is giving us our first grandchild next month! I started growing about the time the kids moved out and this will be my seventh year growing giants. Before giants we used to have a huge vegetable garden, raise competition show pigs and also went to a lot of Nascar races. Pb is 1341,squash 871,melon 226,lg 113.75,mater 2.84,field 83

4/8/2018 8:37:33 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Hank, you just wrote a new country song.

4/8/2018 9:06:50 AM

sevierville, Tn

Chris Kent, Mild manner accounting clerk by day for a construction co. in Sevierville Tn. Otherwise , married with two beautiful girls, and living on ole rocky top Tn growing my heart out. Been growing since 2005. PB 1067, WM 350, BG 270, MATER 6.25,

4/8/2018 9:43:39 AM

aurora, IL

Christopher Chandler-28 years old, I work at Carsons at the Fox Valley Mall on the dock for over 4 years. I have been growing AGs for 4 years. My PB is 504. I like mountain biking, gardening, woodworking, hiking, and camping.

4/8/2018 9:57:22 AM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

Bill Foss retired after thirty seven years of computer hardware and software testing. Still take care of our four rental homes. We had a huge garden when I was young and all nine siblings pitched in. Growing AGs for 34 years, first nineteen just for porch sitters and the last fifteen some would call it for competition. AG 1653 WM 226 TM 7.10 LG 114 FP 145

4/8/2018 10:14:26 AM

Central NY

Scott Marley ...from Massachusetts ...now let’s get everyone’s SS# too...geez...

4/8/2018 2:39:27 PM

Deer Park, WI

Been growing giants since 2000, pb 1422lbs. Casey Neuville, Tom Beachy, where'd you go?? About to turn 41 with 3 young boys (patch labor) at home. Spent 14 years as a medical science liaison for a small med lab before jumping ship and taking a role as territory manager/agronomist for Pioneer Seed. Run a 2-acre hobby farm where i rotate four 1/2 acre quadrants of supersized field pumpkins, field corn, soybeans, and pastured pork (the chops are spectacular). Other hobbies include banging on my drumset, 5k distance running/races, lake superior agate hunting, cryptocurrencies & stock market investing, and reading biographies of early 20th century theoretical physicists.

4/8/2018 3:33:31 PM

Spring Hope, N.C. - USA

Danny Vester growing since 2014,pb 1404 kin 237 melon 59 lope

4/8/2018 5:52:12 PM

Bethlehem CT

John Ciesielski 43, I've been growing a garden since the late 80's when I took over my Dad's garden. I have been growing competitive giant pumpkins since 2007. Before that I was growing generic store bought Atlantic Giant seed (not the same thing) I have five kids and have been married for over twenty years. For my work I manage and maintain a private estate in Northwest CT. I have worked in horticulture all my life and pumpkins are just one of my many interests. I also am interested in trees, wildlife, vegetable gardening, plant propagation,basketball and fishing. PB is 1,063 in 2015. Field pumpkin 95 pounds, CC Watermelon 140 pounds, BD watermelon 106.6 pounds. Not very impressive numbers, but yet I still love to grow!

4/8/2018 6:42:24 PM

Middleton Ma

Don and Jeanne I have been growing for along time with a 11 year break .. going forward I am going to gro one of my own.for size and a Howard Dill for orange

4/8/2018 8:51:23 PM

Austin MN

Tanner Conway, been growing since I was 12 I'm 24 currently. Personal best AG 1170. I'm a recent horticulture grad from UWRF now working as a retail manager at large nursery. I also grow orchids...like LOTS!

4/8/2018 9:28:03 PM

Partlow,Va

lol smallmouth... you have to take me fishing so I can finish it!

4/9/2018 9:16:30 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Nope hank and smallmouth I didn’t hear nothin about mama, or trains, or trucks, or prison. Or gettin drunk.

4/9/2018 10:15:41 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Gary J Grande - 15 years growing. Personal best 1386 but no Coat >. COLORADO. Started the Colorado/Rocky Mountain Giant Vegetables Growers club. Have served 8 years on the GPC committee, now serving as GPC President.

4/9/2018 10:41:59 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Will do Hank, and reminded me of a George Strait song. And true Jim, but I didnt say the “perfect” country song.

4/9/2018 11:12:18 AM

Vancouver, WA

Steve Handy - Hooked on growing since 98' PB-1460 - Dad (Paul Handy) got me hooked. 61 yrs old- Married 42 of them-Four daughters - Six grandkids - Three of each spieces- Mechanic working the at Port of Vancouver for another 180 days then freedom at last.Sheri and I grow at friends property and enjoy (obviously) crappie and all kinds of fishing here in the Pacific Northwest. Thank you all for sharing a part of each of yourselves and all the great info over the years. Good luck in 18'

4/9/2018 1:12:21 PM

Jesse King. 36. I'm a pro gardener (mow & blow) new to the game. I coaxed a 107 lb'er out of a Big Max seed last year & am very excited to get to grow some Giant Genetics this season (Thanks to Cindy & Caylei :)
I'm a bit of a sports nut, my favorite being horse racing ( No I don't have a hot tip for you) & am a Huge SF Giants & Dallas Cowboys fan.

4/9/2018 2:33:54 PM

Arizona

Scott Culp , Gary was very instrumental in helping me find local growers within a couple hundred miles.. Thank You President WIZZY... Still got the Shirts.

4/9/2018 11:23:28 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Scott...Give Ole Wizzy a shout please

4/10/2018 8:59:02 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I’m surprised to see so many of us interested in thoroughbred horse racing but I guess I shouldn’t be. Dave I will be sending an email!

4/10/2018 9:53:47 AM

Chesapeake City, MD

Sport of Kings....and a great source of compost!

4/10/2018 10:01:15 AM

Who says it's a dying sport....

I saw Justify in person this weekend @ S.A! An absolute MONSTER!

Can you smell the roses?

4/10/2018 11:01:53 AM

Ontario, Canada

Phil & Jane Hunt from Cameron, Ontario Canada
GVGO (Giant Vegetable Growers Of Ontario) founding members
Had a Canadian record at 1678 in 2009.
Tomato 7.33 in 2010 + many over 5#.
1st losers club member
pumpkins - finished 2nd overall to Christy Harp in 2009
2nd place for green jacket in 2013
2nd place for Master Grower 2 times

4/10/2018 11:45:18 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

Glenn Peters from Massachusetts planted my first A.G. in 1988

4/10/2018 3:22:21 PM

Sharon, MA

Steve Connolly
Engineer by day, pumpkin grower by night.
Started growing Atlantic Giants in 1993.
Largest Pumpkin was 2075 pounds
Largest Bushel Gourd = 245 pounds
Largest Tomato was 4.65 pounds
I only have room for 4 plants up here in New England

4/10/2018 6:50:05 PM

Griffith, In

Judy Barenie
Griffith, Indiana
Electrician at Ford Motor Co.
Personal Best Pumpkin 1032 and still trying

4/10/2018 7:21:32 PM

Alex, IN

Mikkal Hodge
I live in Alexandria, Indiana
I have been growing these giants since 1999 with a personal best of 1418.5 grown in 2016. I am the state record holder for sunflowers in Indiana with a 26" diameter sunflower head.
Fun fact about my growing, In 2012 I was on an internship in Florida where I grew two plants, hauled the pumpkins home and weighed them at the Indiana State Fair, they weighed 300 and 299.

I have been married for 4 years to my wife Jennifer, we have two boys and a girl due in June.

I am the owner of Small Town USA Apples & More in addition to working as a production agronomist for Beck's Hybrids in Indiana.

4/10/2018 8:18:12 PM

Glosta

Bryan Langley from Glosta Ma. Married to a beautiful Pumpkin widow named Maria and have 2 wonderful kids.
Engineering technician by trade
Been growing since 2009
PB- ag 900, tomato 4.69, squash 477
Maybe one day I'll get to grow instead of work

4/10/2018 11:31:41 PM

Colo Springs CO

Madman Marc Sawtelle, 52, first patch 1990, took off 2011-2013, semi serious in 2014, been back since 2015. Relationship since 8-8-88, learned nobodys perfect, we all make mistakes. 1 supportive wife, 2 wonderful step children, no grandkids, two dogs. Worked 4 years construction, 10 years yard maintenance, 10 years retail management, 10 years box truck driving, and currently driving once again. Never set state record pumpkin [only @ 1418], Have enjoyed many years of propagation "cloning" experiments. Most fun with giant vegetable growing was by trying and learning new techniques and ideas. Still enjoy metal music, brutal concerts, Buccaneer football, and researching and learning as much as possible. May you all live long and prosper !!!

4/11/2018 1:59:09 AM

Corryton, TN

Dave Cantrell, 62, married to an angel, 2 kids, 6 grands. In 1998 I left sales to swing and day trade stocks fulltime if 4-6 hrs a day is fulltime. The balance of my work week is as a farmer, currently cattle. Started growing in 2008 here in the squash bug capitol of the world. Took 4 seasons to get one to a weigh-off. Prefer growing the greenies and melons. PB: kin 1199, sq 752.5, wm 251, tom 4.59

4/11/2018 6:48:21 AM

Littlerock, WA

Cindy Tobeck from Littlerock, Washington, personal best 2002 lbs; state record holder AG, Field Pumpkin and Giant Cabbage. I've been growing for 8 years I think.

I've been a 3rd grade teacher for 21 years at the same elementary school I used to attend as a kid.

I grew a Big Max in 1980 as a kindergartner and after my dad took me to the Washington State Fair in Puyallup, I made it my dream to grow the biggest pumpkin in the world someday.

I love to show horses and currently have two Arabians that I ride in hunter/jumper shows.

4/11/2018 1:07:36 PM