Good gourd.
Farmers and future farmers weighed their prized pumpkins on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Armstrong Interior Provincial Exhibition Fairgrounds as part of the 20th Annual Harvest Pumpkin Festival hosted by the Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce.
The annual weigh-in is sponsored by Valley First.
鈥淲hen we started the weigh-in 20 years ago, we didn鈥檛 realize what the future held in store,鈥� said Sean Newton, chamber president.
The largest pumpkin grown by Lloyd Main weighed in at a whopping 1,000 pounds. Erma Main was close with her pumpkin tipping the scales at 967 pounds.
The Spallumcheen husband-wife combo was one-two in 2019 with Erma鈥檚 winning gourd weighing in at 797 pounds, 22 pounds heavier than Lloyd鈥檚 entry.
In the youth category, Kinley Pshyk鈥榮 pumpkin weighed in at 214 pounds.
鈥淪ince May, local growers have been nurturing giant pumpkins using some top-secret methods,鈥� weigh in volunteer Mike Paull said. 鈥淪ome fertilizer, TLC and a sunshade will help grow a heavy pumpkin but good weather also helps.鈥�
The winner in the adult category will receive $500 while the youth winner will receive $50 thanks to Valley First.
Scott Carley of Langley currently holds the record for the biggest Giant Pumpkin in B.C. at 1,543 pounds.
鈥淲e encourage everyone to think about growing a pumpkin for next year鈥檚 competition. Who knows we might have an 1,100-pound pumpkin,鈥� said Newton with a smile. 鈥淭he Township of Spallumcheen is where farming comes first.鈥�
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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