From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Knopp, Germany

I do not know all of you by your BP.COM names though I have guessed at a few.

Do all of you agree with the decision? Has anyone that disagrees made you think if you made the right decision?

The last thing I want is sympathy, I am a retired First Sergeant with skin as thick as a 3" scab on a giant pumpkin.

When I was active duty I was always the last to eat at the mess hall, always the last to go home, always there for the soldiers and their families, used my "free" weekends to take deployed soldiers wives to the commissary.

In other words I had to be the bearer of honesty, integritory and courage. When something was not right I had to be the person that the young soldiers and their families could come to.

We are facing that right now.

I am that young soldier (pumpkin grower).

It appears that I will be a forgotten boycotter next year, but I have the courage.

10/5/2015 5:01:02 PM

Central NY

Owen- I just want to chime in and say that hope all this gets worked out.. I was a bit shocked to see that you got some "hate mail" from some in this community... That's pretty shitty...but know there are many growers that appreciate all the info you post here on BP and the knowledge that you share...best of luck to you
-porkchop

10/5/2015 6:48:04 PM

Cobleskill Ny

best of luck to you owen

10/5/2015 7:43:53 PM

Kaukauna, Wisconsin

Owen
Scott Steils was send a text from me. Glen Martin the rep for the area where the Weigh off was.
The text was sent the day before the weigh off 9-25-2015 at 2:55 pm
"The GPC rules are that a fruit can not have a hole or soft spot no larger than three inches acrossed and three inches deep. The Brandt pumpkin will not qualify because of that rule.
He posted a photo on Big Pumpkins showing a rot spot over four inches deep for all the GPC officers to see"

Scott responded back to me:
"The rules says it can have one major spot 3x3 or more as long as it doesn't have any other spots."

As the GPC Rep my position is to enforce the rule as they are written, not what everybody wants them to read.

If the rules say you can't have an amputated finger and you then cut your hand off do you still have an amputated finger?
That's the same as "there is no hole because I cut off 50 pounds from a round pumpkin".
These are is simple 4H rules you would have the the local county fair.

The decision to disqualify the Brandt pumpkin was made by several GPC reps on the Friday before the weigh off. We were shocked that Scott accepted it.

If you don't like the rules. Join the the GPC and we can change them before the next growing season.

10/5/2015 7:52:15 PM

Rudolph

Glen did it ever occurred to you or brought up by the gpc to make contact with me before the weigh off? You have my number, you no it's a 3 and a half hour drive for me to sturgeon bay,, why didn't you call me, if you knew ahead of time tell the grower,,save me the trip,, all you would've had to do was say we informed scott to DQ your fruit if you'd like to weigh it down there go ahead but be aware you wont be elagable to compete,, Glen what you said doesn't add up and you no it, I'm not made I'm saying this as friends.. I don't mean to put you on the spot on the message board but not one gpc member has taken the time to e-mail me or call me and talk to me one on one. I'm truly sorry it turned out thus way, but I believe if this meeting took place you would've told me not wait 5 days after the fact.

10/5/2015 8:40:45 PM

Charlotte, MI

I am a veteran as well. not sure what a troll is. I truly respect your service to our great nation. But if the grower would have not carved up the pumpkin and let the GPC rep spoon out the soft spot as stated in the GPC guide lines this pumpkin would have been DMG. I believe the grower tried to bend the rules in his favor that is all. BTW if you have T shirts made post your cost ect.. I would like one. Thank you.

10/5/2015 8:48:19 PM

Rudolph

Luigi I did not bend rules all I was trying to do was save a fruit that I spend hundreds of hours on this spring/summer would you not do the same?

10/5/2015 8:55:31 PM

Alex, IN

I have thought the whole time this one thought... If a grower knows the rules, and tries to keep a fruit healthy to get a weight on it that is one thing. But as a grower when you know the rules why would one put the judges in a position to make a controversial call knowing that the fruit should be classified as a dmg. fruit to ensure the integrity if the competition.

It is not all on the judges. There was lack of communication between the GPC and Josiah, GPC and local judges, local judges to GPC, ect.

We should all take a step back and work together as friends and fellow pumpkin growers to make sure that the rules are clarified this upcoming offseason. We are all friends and should act that way. Competitions bring out our competitive spirit but we must use self control and understand where the others are coming from.

Congratulations to Josiah on an amazing fruit! I hope your 2096 weighs equally as heavy over the chart!

Mikkal

10/5/2015 9:03:25 PM

Central Minnesota

Glen I am still waiting for your call. I asked you to call me Friday night before the weighoff, you said you would and you didn't. Are you saying that in the conference call we had Saturday morning before the weighoff that you myself and and the other judge on the phone weren't all in agreement that a spot that was dry, skinned over and hard was no longer a soft spot? That is the real question here. You are the GPC central region representative and I am ready to talk anytime. You have my cell number.

10/5/2015 9:04:52 PM

Kaukauna, Wisconsin

Josiah, we were very glad to see it weighed.
I was in a remote locate in Wisconsin Bear hunting with my daughter. We were gone for four days. We had very poor cell phone service. Didn't get a bear, will have to wait another seven years to try again.

10/5/2015 9:15:25 PM

Charlotte, MI

I am a die hard grower as well. And no spring chicken, I do this for the pride of knowing that each season I have the chance to beat myself. I also work 60+ ours a week and maintain a house hold. crazy some say. As stated in a previous post. I as a grower would not have taken this fruit to a GPC site. You own this mess Josiah and you know it. Sometimes doing the right thing bites. Good things next year eh.

10/5/2015 9:16:10 PM

Sw Wi

I have my opinion on this issue.
And everyone has the right to their opinion
But attacking Josiah for taking it to the weigh of is just plain WRONG!

10/5/2015 9:26:46 PM

Rudolph

No one thought about contacting me did they? Glen if you know mme,I try my best at everything I do, pumpkin growing is no different, I had a rot spot and I cured it, the pumpkins sound.. I did what most never were able to do.. Thats why the gpc did what they did, because you believed I would be able to with the pictures you seen post weigh off. Thats the bottom line. And I wish I had a bear tag, we have a nice black bear on our property..

10/5/2015 9:30:06 PM

Charlotte, MI

I am not attacking the grower. Take a zannie. just my opinion. I do respect his passion for the the sport. And do wish him future success.

10/5/2015 9:37:16 PM

Central Minnesota

Glen is a soft spot that is dry skinned over and hard still a soft spot?

10/5/2015 9:52:04 PM

Minnesota

I say we give the growers a chance to vote on it, give the voters a day or two to vote and leave it at that. On this particular decision. Just a idea!

10/5/2015 9:55:59 PM

Wixom MI.

I sure hope that the GPC sits down this winter and review this rule and make some needed changes.my thought is what if this damage happend 4-6 weeks ago and clearly healed over and continued to grow another 200 lbs.it sure would be concidered a sound fruit but it still would have that 5"hole !!! That is why i beleive that it should have to enter the cavity Before its a DMG. Im sure if they were to show it on tv that they would only show the good clean side !

10/5/2015 10:26:14 PM

Austin MN

I agree why the heck did not one call Josiah? If this was in agreement before the weigh off why not tell the grower?...I'd be pissec if I drove all that way (6 hours for me) and had my fruit dq and people could have told me that ahead of time.

10/5/2015 11:53:56 PM

Austin MN

Really hope like every one else says that the GPC look over rules and please clarify them for judges and growers. To me what Josiah did any grower would do to save his fruit I would!!

10/5/2015 11:55:20 PM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

Maybe there is some high ground we can all learn from hear.. I see the fruit a week later with the blossom end cut off... And the seeds removed on display at another weigh off... Also the pumpkin in question was grown off my seed.. I'm Switzerland .... Yup I am... Two wrongs don't make any of this right.
It's a very very tough call... I know all the parties involved and I know we all like to get along . I feel like this should of and could of been handled differently from all parties... No ones wrong and no one right.. I'm sure I'll take some heat for this but oh well. I don't like to see the Giant pumpkin grower family fight.. No matter what city or state we reside in. I wasn't at the weigh off normally there is a core group at every weigh off in our state we didn't have that core group around that weekend. Sorry I couldn't have made it.

10/6/2015 12:29:17 AM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

Maybe the rules need to change .. I don't think that is even a question anymore.. I'm all for the rules to change... Heck let's improve them right away.. I run a weigh off and it runs smooth every year we don't have big prize payouts but we still draw in lots of pumpkins and some real big ones as well. I have had to dmg fruit( no one wants to but it has to be done) ( heck I even dmg one of my own last year) this hobby is not about the prize purse we all like. There is way more to growing than that.. I think of all the great friends and families that have made this hobby so much fun and enjoyable it's a year round thing in Wisconsin and around the globe.
So all I ask is let's not point fingers at each other and cause issues for the future of the hobby.

10/6/2015 12:38:14 AM

Knopp, Germany

I have obviously gone too far, it was not my intent to split the growing community down the middle.

I thought the decision was wrong by the GPC, a mis-interpretation of their own rules and that a reversal of their decision and a review of the rule was the best way to go.

Regardless of what occurs after this post I wish all members of the bigpumpkins.com site, all non-members that grow giant pumpkins and their families and friends the best.

The joy of growing is not gone for me, but the competition is a thing of the past.

If you are ever in Germany look me up.

10/6/2015 12:42:52 AM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

so you ask what's my point... I don't have one... I'm choosing to stay out of it as this is a Gpc thing and a Josiah thing maybe the Gpc could say instead of a dmg fruit it's an unofficial weight due to all that meat being cut off as the real weight should have been way over 2000 pounds anyhow.
Let's not fight let's move forward. Look to the future and not the past.

10/6/2015 12:43:51 AM

Central Minnesota

Glen is a soft spot that is dry skinned over and hard still a soft spot?
On the morning of Saturday 9/26/15 the answer was NO on a conference call with the judges. Sometime the following Monday that answer changed apparently.
Why is this important? Because there are some very big weighoffs coming up this weekend and the rules have changed half way through the game. If a spot that is dry, skinned over and hard is still considered a “soft spot” then the soft spot rules apply. If you apply the Soft Spot Rule to areas that are dry, skinned over and hard you end up with this:
Two spots of animal damage that have healed…DMG
Two hail spots….DMG
30 Day old spot that is 3x3 or greater…DMG
3 x 3 Stem split into the pumpkin that is dry….DMG
Any two spots on the surface of a pumpkin regardless of the size….DMG

10/7/2015 9:15:10 AM

Central Minnesota

The list can go on and on….That is why it is important this gets addressed. The 1965 Brandt spots were dry, skinned over and hard and was ruled DMG after the fact. If these same standards are used this weekend over half the pumpkins weighed will be DMG. Also, just because the judges rule your fruit official before it is weighed at the weighoff, you now have to wait to make sure the GPC believes it is official also. If you aren’t happy with the judges decision at the weighoff this weekend appeal it to the GPC because the judges decisions are no longer final. Just a few of the ramifications of this.

I am done now, I will sit back and wait to hear about the appeal that was filed and glad I don't have to deal with the judging issues that will arise from this.

10/7/2015 9:16:55 AM

nOVA sCOTIA

Exactly Scott.From that day forward the same rules need to apply in order to have fair competition!!!

10/7/2015 10:02:10 AM

Wixom MI.

Well said MN Fisher rules need to be much more clear !!!

10/7/2015 10:41:03 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Well put Scott, I hope all judges abide by the same rules dictated by the GPC paralleling the 1965 Brandt decision

10/7/2015 11:15:22 AM

Usa

Folks really have it backwards. This decision is making the same rules apply to all growers or at least the rules as enforced at several top pioneering weigh-offs, because apparently it is the Wild West at many sites. In 4 decades of attending both GPC and non-GPC weigh-offs with 50+ sound entries, never would a pumpkin with this level of damage have made it to official scale or display. Simple 4H common sense as written above. Commiserations to committee members who will have to address this issue and educate judges over the winter.

10/7/2015 4:29:47 PM

Colorado

A soft spot that scars over on a pumpkin that's still sound/growing is called a ?
1.) soft spot
2.) scar.
3.) soft spot cause we knew it was soft a week ago.
4.) what cha ma call it.
5.) I don't know what to call it( that's where I'm at)
6.) big ass scar

10/7/2015 6:20:35 PM

Alex, IN

I think the biggest issue is the amount of pumpkin that was removed. Had it been less maybe a different outcome, but 50+ pounds or so is a significant amount....

10/7/2015 6:23:54 PM

Wixom MI.

The size of a baceball is maybe 1-2 lbs but not 50 ?

10/7/2015 6:47:58 PM

Glosta

I think an absolute rule is needed. One such as cavity breach or no cavity breach. that leaves no room for arguing. Many pkns have gone to weigh offs to only puke very soon after. There is no way that those were sound pkns. This clearly shows that the rule is too vague. why do silent rotting pkns get benefit over visual ones. if the cavity isn't breached then its still sound. Imagine if the day before a weigh off a rabbit or deer gets hungry in your patch. no way you pkn isn't sound just because bambi had a midnight snack. but you show up to weigh off with fresh chew marks on fruit. Not rot but open flesh . Are you dq'd? pkn is still sound and who is to not say it wouldn't heal over. This is why there needs to be an absolute rule. guilty or not guilty. no wishy washiness. Until there is an absolute rule it will be exploited in some way shape or form. Just some food for thought.

10/7/2015 7:34:35 PM

Alex, IN

I agree with Bryan!

10/7/2015 7:45:19 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

I've watched this event and subsequent debate unfold with intense scrutiny and have declined to comment until I have digested all input. We have judged fruit with soft spots all along relevant to whether or not it has breached the cavity. Fortunately, we have never, to my knowledge, encountered a fruit with a 3" deep soft spot, but will dig until we reach sound flesh. Had we encountered a 3" soft spot, we may very well have found ourselves in the same position of having our judges' decision overturned. I side with Bry here. If it isn't into the cavity, it's a sound fruit regardless of whether or not it will make it through an extended display somewhere. What really matters is whether it makes it to the scale.

10/7/2015 9:26:05 PM

That State Up North

add another 50 lb to that pumpkin and figure it was a 2000+ fruit, awesome, too bad you didn't pollinate it with the 2096

10/7/2015 10:55:45 PM

Kaukauna, Wisconsin

Scott
Stop twisting my words. You had the rule book. I was in a tree stand.
This is the first time in the history of the GPC that they over ruled a judge. And yes you were the only judge.
End of Discussion

10/7/2015 11:15:24 PM

Central Illinois

use a force gauge on the damaged area
http://www.amazon.com/Extech-Instruments-475044-SD-Capacity-Datalogger/dp/B00JFZAR1I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444308816&sr=8-1&keywords=force+gauge

10/8/2015 8:56:32 AM

Central Minnesota

Glen 3 of the 5 judges from Sturgeon Bay will be at Stillwater, we look forward to talking to you about this. Since you won't return my phone calls I guess this is the only way to talk to you.

10/8/2015 9:06:03 AM

Team Munson

A rotten pumpkin doesn't heal let alone when you dig 40 - 50#'s out of it. When the rotten spot exceeded 3" it was done end of story DMG.

A split is not rot it can heal & will heal & for those trying to make the connection between the two you know better.

Scott you were told ahead of time this pumpkin was DMG but you still made it official. You forced the GPC to reverse the call to what you were told to make in the first place what did you expect.

The rules have been more than functional for many years until some one doesn't agree as no one reads them until then. What the GPC has strived to do is the KISS method so as not to have the rules read like a War & Peace novel. Every seminar that the GPC has been part of always dedicates time to rules & judging, we even had a pumpkin in Vegas & did a hands on judging procedure complete with soft spot ruling. The GPC has video's covering every possible aspect of judging on youtube & are getting those links on our web site. You tell me how we can do more with the limited budget they have try to be part of the solution not part of the problem.

I feel sorry for Josiah as he is the victim of bad advise I know he has a bigger one for this weekend & wish him good luck & will root for him to make the NYC trip.

It bothers me that I am competing with sites & growers that think this is acceptable. Since this has come up I have yet to talk to anyone that thinks the GPC decision was wrong. It is not about seeing if you can get big pile of rot to a scale just because it doesn't go to the cavity. It is about putting the best possible product on the scale to reward our sponsors who have invested their money to make this possible for us & the public who is paying them for a show.

Scott if you have questions get my number I will answer you but drop this it is over.

10/8/2015 10:44:36 AM

Central Minnesota

320-293-3287 Call me

10/8/2015 10:54:45 AM

Knopp, Germany

Dave, you are really going over board right now.

Who said the 50 lbs of pumpkin flesh was removed?

And as far as the 3# rule goes, that is when it is removed "at the weigh off" not before hand.

When you remove rot or soft flesh it will heal, just like a split, you should know that.

It bothers me that all of the Lemmings that follow you and the GPC cannot see the flaw in the rule and the GPC interpretation of it.

Lastly, just because you say "end of story" doesn't make it so. As a matter of fact because you posted I have new energy.

I am not supporting the grower or the site rep, I am supporting the first ever overturned decision by the GPC.

Wrong answer, and no one appreciates the tone of your post.

10/8/2015 11:05:49 AM

Knopp, Germany

Outside of the GPC Committee that was not at the event, is there anyone out there that was at the event that will say the fruit was soft? Anyone out there that will say that any pumpkin flesh was removed?

If not, then the question goes back to the GPC, why? And do not say it was DMG because nothing was removed at the site.

Why? What? When? Who? To the best of my knowledge you have no first hand proof, but so many people that have a opinion.

Was it soft at the weighoff?

Was 3# dug out at the weighoff?

If the answer is no, WTF?

Geez we still love you guys, can't you except a wrong decision? Or are you all Brady fans?

10/8/2015 1:03:32 PM

President - GPC

Owen,
Why do you need to continually need stoke the fire?? I know the GPC committee will meet to review clarification of the rules to make them easier to interpret, our Winter project. Y

10/8/2015 1:22:50 PM

President - GPC

However I do not understand why you need to name call ( Lemmings" and degrade our hobby. Can you not see that this is counterproductive?? Since you are no longer going to compete... why do you care? Is this your example of professionalism?? You even threatened to call Guiness... After all the hard work has been done for the good of all growers to help represent our hobby and to seek national sponsorship. How would you feel if your continued ranting ruins this for all growers?? The GPC does not owe you any explanation... you have no dog in the fight.

10/8/2015 1:32:38 PM

Colorado

I don't think were talking about a rotten pumpkin here. 1625 gantners are unique in that they can get big growth cracks late. It was a growth crack that was getting soft not a I'm done growing and rotting scenario. I don't think the current rules address this scenario. If Josiah had cleaned it out a week earlier and there was no doubt it had healed over-would it still be ruled DMG. That's the question moving forward.Not easy to write rules for this situation.

10/8/2015 1:40:52 PM

Lymington UK

Owen, I'm beginning to wonder whether it is worth being on the GPC board. All of us work non stop to look after our growers and try to make our sport better. I'm in charge of helping our growers get their Guinness WRs acknowledged and if you want their direct number I will send it yo you. Sometimes it feels like we are on a hidding to nothing.
Ian

10/8/2015 3:10:11 PM

Knopp, Germany

Owen is causing a problem. Owen is making you wonder if you should be a member of the GPC board?

Wow, good that someone is going to take the blame for this historic dicision. Owen. Sure wasn't the GPc.

Anyone that does not have ties to the GPC is blamed by those that do or did.

I have more pictures of events that occurred and the GPC did not intervene, pictures that show true errors in judgement of growers that all think have a halo over their heads.

I am sick and tired of being blamed for your stupid mistakes.

I will post the pictures because the GPC cannot simply admit they were wrong.

Owen, Owen, yeah like I have anything to win here.

10/8/2015 3:49:33 PM

Glosta

"It is about putting the best possible product on the scale to reward our sponsors who have invested their money to make this possible for us & the public who is paying them for a show. "

Well spoken Dave, so in the end it really isn't about the growers is alot the money, shows where the emphasis had been all along. So much for a GPC standing for Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, guess it's really Great Pumpkin Cooperation.

thank you for clarifying something I thought was always true. Let me know when it becomes about the growers again.

10/8/2015 4:00:48 PM

South East

First of: didn't Dave resign from the gpc?

Second :..Scott was told ahead of time this pumpkin was dq? So the judges are told before hand what to rule? Before they even see the pumpkin in person. Pfffff......so much for fairness of competition.

Who informed Josiah that his pumpkin was going to be DQed since yall decided ahead of time?


Hard not

10/8/2015 4:13:21 PM

South East

Hard not to be left with many questions after this debacle..

10/8/2015 4:15:52 PM

Knopp, Germany

So SkyWizzy, IanP Owen still to blame?

10/8/2015 4:44:18 PM

Knopp, Germany

oh, my bad probably never read my diary.

10/8/2015 4:46:48 PM

Knopp, Germany

And I keep being asked why I don't become a committee member. Because this is a hobby, for fun. The GPC has made this too much a "we are the best" event.

Circleville Ohio is still a independent yes? I hope so.

10/8/2015 4:52:39 PM

Knopp, Germany

And I have more SkyWizzy and IanP

Last year The Europeans wanted their final weighoff to be a GPC event even though it was always meant as a last weighoff for all previously weighed pumpkins.

I complained saying there was a GPC event the day before, a long standing one. But no, Owen was again the bad guy. So I hope that the European site paid their fine, but who knows for sure, and who do you believe

Guess who won. The GPC, The European event was granted GPC status weeks before there event and guess what…...that same event is not a GPC event this year. go figure, man am I stupid.

Probably Owen’s fault.

10/8/2015 5:12:17 PM

Knopp, Germany

I need to put new garlic at my door.

10/8/2015 5:13:58 PM

Knopp, Germany

Eddy Z, I forgot, another reason why I never agreed.

Funny how I can be attacked from all sides and never get any support from the rest.

Am I the only grower that is really upset and not scared of the names that are thrown out there?

What a pitiful community.

10/8/2015 5:36:12 PM

Central NY

Hey., I resemble that remark ...

10/8/2015 6:26:54 PM

Soldotna,AK

If this is solely about weight let's simply have a " hole to the cavity" rule. If it is really about weight and looks you have bigger problems than the size of soft spots- color and shape. Any ordinary gardener knows a pumpkin from a squash. Just because the GPC calls it a pumpkin doesn't make it one. Three catagories : Pumpkins, True Green Squash and Other- unless we are willing to call a duck a duck.

10/8/2015 6:36:31 PM

Wixom MI.

I hope that you are right SkyWissy that the GPC will take a look at this issue during the winter although it looks like its to late for josiah !!! But i think that the main reason that this arguement continues is that no one from the GPC will even say that they will review this issue.its like none of our buiseness on what they will do.i was stuned to see dave stelts reply, how did a 2 pound healed spot the size of your fist turn into a 40-50 pound rotten pumpkin. For someone who belonged to the GPC at one time to say something like that and then say end of story makes me wonder if the GPC will really take a look at this.when scott the only judge their cant get an answer from anyone on the GPC its like telling a judge that its none of your buisness what we are discussing behind closed doors. By ignoring it or not talking about the subject just adds fuel to it. GPC at least tell us that you will at least reveiw the rule this winter.is that to much to ask for ???

10/8/2015 7:03:30 PM

Alex, IN

While it sucks for Josiah, I get the feeling he will get his well deserved award this weekend! Goodluck Josiah!

I hope everyone takes a look back at their posts. If what is said is not helpful to moving on from what has been decided and giving thoughtful and constructive insight into how it needs to be fixed this winter then please don't post it. Everyone who posts a negative or derogatory remark only makes this worse. This is no way to treat each other as fellow pumpkin growers and this is no way to treat people in general.

I have worked hard to get our shows here to what they are, as have those in Hamilton, Half moon bay, Topsfield and many other great sites, if the main sponsors got on here and saw this, how many would not want to be a part of this sport? How many would dump us without a second thought? Everything we say affects how this sport moves forward and grows around the world. What you post and how others see it will forever be a part of this great sport, whether it be for good or bad.

Just a thought....

10/8/2015 7:39:33 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

my thought..i am small grower...i hope my friends and family don't think i am growing for money...or to make sponsors happy..... i want my growing to have a higher value than that.....

10/8/2015 8:44:36 PM

North Smithfield, RI

b




not
you are
absolutely correct !!!

10/8/2015 9:10:53 PM

Marion, Wisconsin

Wixom, it was not a spot the size of a baseball. There was one spot the size of my fist on the side of the pumpkin. The major damaged area was around the blossem end. If I were to guess from memory that spot was at least 16" across and 5" deep. I wish that everyone who has had an opinion on this subject could have seen this pumpkin in person. It was a very impressive pumpkin. Something much larger than anything I have ever grown. I would be very happy to take such a pumpkin, DMG or not, to a weigh off. IMHO though this pumpkin was "DMG". I don't want to hurt feelings and I hope this isn't taken personnally. This pumpkin was not as "healed" as it's being made out to be. I realize the gpc made their judgement from pictures. Although that is not correct to do, the correct judgement was made IMHO. I was not a judge at this event but I was well aware of the rules on this subject before this event.
Again, if I just stepped on your toes, I'm sorry.
Matt

10/8/2015 9:57:01 PM

Wixom MI.

No matt thank you for the information, the only information that i saw and heard was a 5" wide and 5" deep and healed.if the spot was that big near 16" i agree it is a Dmg.and again this is the first that i have heard of this damage size.i never try to step on anyones toes, but i do like to see fair rules.so if i was wrong then i apoligize if i afended anyone.but that being said because pumpkins keep increasing in size so fast and new situations do come up that the gpc does review the current rules this winter and see if they need to be updated a little.

10/8/2015 10:43:50 PM

Wixom MI.

offended not afended, need edit button

10/8/2015 10:48:54 PM

Central Illinois

I think the GPC did admit their mistake by changing their ruling and calling it damaged.To me by the 3" rule it was damaged.

If someone discovers a way to dry a pumpkin in 15 minutes does that mean they can scrape down their pumpkin to 1/2" of the cavity right befor the contest and enter it.

10/9/2015 8:20:22 AM

Joliet, IL

Group hug is needed....passion drives this hobby....we are all passionate OCD driven human beings and torture ourselves in the name of giant pumpkins. Lol. It's a blessing and a curse.

There are definitive moments when rules change and adjusted for the better of all future weighoffs to keep controversy on the day we all wait for all season...weigh off day. My first way off in 2003 my one pumpkin had too many green areas to not pass the 75% orange to green rule. Lol...seems like centuries ago. Anyways,passion leads us on and if this learning moment creates positive change then the better for us all. If people want to hold grudges and divide growers or states or worse of friends....then do it. Or have some empathy for all sides and players involved and say....it was bound to happen sooner or a later. A definitive moment. Anyone who ever organized a weigh off know its not easy. For those that don't want to be bothered but just grow pumpkins and have a place to weigh them....i say start your own local weigh off and do it for fun and get your pympkjns weighed on any scale you want...truck scale...hanging scale....no rules but your own. Do it for fun. But if you want to compete in GPC weigh offs then try to understand that shit like this happens....has happened....will happen. Its a shame to lose good friendships in the end. When the truth is they are just pumpkins. Good seasons come and go. Friendships and growing together is what its about.

10/9/2015 8:01:57 PM

Joliet, IL

Keep controversy away on the day we wait for all season i meant to say

10/9/2015 8:05:28 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Wow, very well said Shazzy!

10/9/2015 8:13:03 PM

Joliet, IL

I could have done some proofreading Chris but put it together and let it fly before changing my mind....lol....excuse the spelling and grammatical errors but just spoke it from the heart.

10/9/2015 8:28:40 PM

Joliet, IL

Who is that Shazzy guy anyways?....lol

10/9/2015 8:30:08 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Anyone who knows how to spell " grammatical " and knows what it means is ok in my book!

Thanks for putting a healthy spin on this topic and reminding others what this growing is all about.

10/9/2015 8:44:23 PM

Joliet, IL

I hope sometimes I don't come across as trying to sound like a smarty pants but journalism schooling in my younger days taught me how to be a wordsmith. Some words can say it all in a single word what you try to say in a whole sentence. Like Empathy and definitive. Empathy means trying to walk in another man's shoes and definitive as in let's definately find common ground and move forward. Just my 2 cents and hope everyone understands why i posted this. Hope all is well Chris and thanks for the kind words.

10/9/2015 9:10:51 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

..That paragraph, one of the top entries of the year.

10/9/2015 9:21:20 PM

Central Illinois

I dont think any one person was wrong,its a rule that needs defining .

10/10/2015 8:54:48 AM

Rhode Island

shazzy has and always will be a class act. enough now with this and lets get back to topics and discussions that will educuate the growers.

deep down inside im pretty sure the grower of this disqualified fruit knew the pumpkin was not what they really wanted to represent with.believe me friends i know how disapointing it can be to have a damaged fruit, especially something special in weight.thankfully it only lasts until you get something as great on the scales again.

lets not forget we have all accomplished a tremendous amount of growth and edcuation because the gpc and big pumpkins.com.
in one way or another we have all benefited.

where would we be without them? who would keep the records, award and recognize the top growers in the world,give everyone a fair and equal chance for success. think about it folks,we have a lot to be thankful for.

im sure this was easier left undone by the gpc but to their credit they chose to do what they felt was right.

my best to all.
pap

10/10/2015 9:15:48 AM