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Walhalla Sc

How do you get a watermelon certified and officially weighed and recorded for a state record???? I live in South Carolina and nobody seems to know...They have a state fair in Oct. Will they take care of it? I was hoping to get it weighed before then..Also where is the closest place to have it weighed for the watermelon growing forum??I I live in the upper part of SC in Walhalla. 15 miles from Clemson..Acc champs....

8/29/2012 9:08:46 PM

Muddy Waters

Take a ride over to Hope Arkansas this weekend Llyod is having a weigh-off

8/29/2012 9:14:33 PM

Muddy Waters

Please consider attending the weigh-off this coming Saturday if you have a large watermelon or cantaloupe that is reaching its maximum size. This is a GPC sanctioned event. Giant Watermelon Growers Club members can use this contest to qualify for end-of-year entries in the top 20 GWG contest. A GWG member with a watermelon in the range of 180 pounds or higher has good chances of placing in the top 20. Obviously, if you have a watermelon that is currently 300 pounds or more, you need to weigh in at a GPC site this year because of the large prize money. Also, if you have a nice cantaloupe, bring it. You can get an official GPC weight for your cantaloupe even though there is no event prize for the largest cantaloupe. The weigh-off is at the Washington State Park eight miles north of Hope on HWY 278. Josh Williams is the weigh-off director. If you have questions, please call him at 870-703-8256.

8/29/2012 9:15:21 PM

Walhalla Sc

Thanks Muddy Waters, I hope to go to Hope Ark. one day but I can't this weekend...The Sc state record is 172.8 pounds...and my estimated weight a week ago was 167.5...It's still growing a1/4 to 3/8 in girth a day...Don't know who to contact to get it weighed....Is Josh Williams the weigh off director just for the Washington State Park or is he over the GWG contest?

8/29/2012 9:46:44 PM

Walhalla Sc

Thanks Muddy Waters, I hope to go to Hope Ark. one day but I can't this weekend...The Sc state record is 172.8 pounds...and my estimated weight a week ago was 167.5...It's still growing a1/4 to 3/8 in girth a day...Don't know who to contact to get it weighed....Is Josh Williams the weigh off director just for the Washington State Park or is he over the GWG contest?

8/29/2012 9:50:42 PM

Muddy Waters

Are you a member of the GWG?

8/29/2012 10:22:28 PM

Walhalla Sc

Yes, This is my first year...

8/30/2012 6:33:56 AM

Corryton, TN

First thing is to keep it growing. I don't think ther are any "official state" employees in any state that keep up with our records. We are basicly a self-governing bunch. We all want to see everything documented, documented, documented. A weigh-off with certified scales and multiple witnesses is by far the best place to get this done. If you need to do this on your own it take a boat load of pictures and get lots of witnesses. Check out this thread to see what I mean.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=35&p=447298

There is a GPC weigh-off in Nancy, KY on 9/15 which is about 325 mi from you. GOOD LUCK!!!

8/30/2012 8:05:47 AM

The North Coast

Yadkin Valley (NC) would be one of your options too...about 3 more weeks.

8/30/2012 8:43:43 AM

South East

Yes bring it to Yadkin. We live in Lexington, SC. Unless something major happens we will be there. If it is still growing then leave it on the vine and bring it to NC. Which seed are you growing it off of? We grew that 172.8 the current record. Or if you cant make it to the weigh off then go to a local scale company so your scale is certified. Best of luck...

8/30/2012 9:13:24 AM

Alabama

Red Clay, Call your USDA county extension agent. In Bama he came by and verified the melon was growing in Alabama. I then had it weighed on a state certified scale at the local COOP with three witnesses present who signed a swown affidavit. I sent this with two newspaper articles to the state USDA office and a few weeks later received a certificate and letter recognizing the new record.

8/30/2012 6:38:51 PM

Walhalla Sc

Hey, I appreciate all the information.I feel like I know most of you guys. I been looking at diaries and checking out the message board this year. Ann, my wife, and I went to Pigeon Forge last Oct. for our Anniversary.I had found on line where Chris and Janet lived and we rode by their house.I wasn't going to stop but he had his watermelons lined up and I got excited and drove down his drive way and told Ann to look! They came out and was supper nice to us..Chris showed me where he grew his world record and gave me some pointers. Thanks....

8/30/2012 9:11:35 PM

Walhalla Sc

Hey Tina and Frank, The melon is from a 260 Kent and open pollinated...It's got a girth of 58 and 3/8ths inches but is only 31 inches long....ott today was 185. How big of one do you have this year????

8/30/2012 9:23:16 PM

Walhalla Sc

Hey Tina and Frank, The melon is from a 260 Kent and open pollinated...It's got a girth of 58 and 3/8ths inches but is only 31 inches long....ott today was 185. How big of one do you have this year????

8/30/2012 9:29:28 PM

South East

Bigger...LOL...

8/30/2012 10:25:50 PM

South East

We have two going now...one at your size and one bigger...Hope you can make it to Yadkin...

8/30/2012 10:29:53 PM