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Mulino, Oregon

Just wanted to remind everyone of the New Bauman Farms Weigh-off in Gervais (Woodburn) Oregon on October 3rd. There is over $20,000 in total prize money with a hefty 1st prize of $10,000!!!!! If you are planning on making the trip, please rsvp to Brian Bauman at baumans@baumanfarms.com.

This event is hosted by the PGVG and is a GPC event!.

Hope to see you all there!

you can check out our website at www.pgvg.org for more info.

Jim

9/17/2009 1:12:21 AM

Rhode Island

jim
now those are some deep pockets. great job of organizing and sponsor searching. what a fantastic prize schedule.

if my pumpkin weighed just a few hundred (lol) pounds more id take the drive from little rhode island
pap

9/17/2009 7:11:14 AM

So. Maine

And , IF my pumpkin weighed OVER a thousand pounds MORE I'd take the drive from the big state of Maine ... LOL

9/17/2009 10:53:25 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

With a purse like this folks will drive for it.

9/18/2009 10:10:54 AM

Cornelius, Oregon

As the NW remains quiet... hiding in the reeds... we wait... Dr. Evil laugh ensues...

9/18/2009 2:11:53 PM

Washington

Yeah, an amazing prize schedule....if you only care about the top five. My guess is the people normally in the top 5 put the prize schedule together. Whatever happened to encouraging new growers to come out and bring their pumpkins? Spread out the prize money and pay out more places to really encourage the future of this hobby to come out and bring their accomplishments to the scale. Every last grower who gets one to the scale deserves a lot more than "better luck next year" but they don't even get gas money. Sad.

If you only care about bringing a couple more fruit in from people who normally wouldn't attend the event but make the trip because they think they have a shot at the top, way to go! I would rather see 50 new growers, all of which have the stuff to grow the next world record, bring a fruit to the scale instead of just caring about the present and paying the same few growers year after year. For the promotion and the love of the sport, spread it out!

9/19/2009 7:50:21 PM

theres also flip side to that mymandan, another 20 growers might make the run up and over the rockies from places far away that normally wouldnt consider that haul

9/19/2009 8:07:23 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

That's why some of us are trying to float weighoffs in their own back yard Mymandan.... encourage our local group, bring in some of the others, and get it so you can smile next to that lump on a pallet without 500 or more miles drive each way. If it's love of the sport, then the bucket of bragging rights that goes with a ribbon is priceless.

Some areas are pretty sparse yet... both with growers and with weighoffs... I think we're almost the southernmost US weighoff period and there's a LOT of country south of us yet. I envy the PGVG being able to put on a weigh like that, and if there's $10k split amongst the other prizes; I'd say they're providing gas money for several slots.

I wish everyone luck at New Bauman Farms, and may some records fall!

OkieGal, 5-State Cimarron Weighoff Oct 17th.

9/19/2009 8:28:08 PM

Rhode Island

unfortunately growers who dont feel they can compete with the big boys and gals sometimes get offended when big time prize schedules are announced.i felt your pain 20 years ago when i started out.

you have to remember that the goal of most serious contending clubs and site competitions is to attract the biggest pumpkins possible, for anywhere and everywhere.
huge money awards will get a lot of big pumpkins traveling north west for sure.and chances are a sponsorship of this size will not come around every year?

personally i can see where growers who feel they cant compete with the more experienced growers whould feel left out, or overlooked which ever may be the case.

we must all remember that it is a giant pumpkin contest. the biggest and the best deserve the accolades.some growers spend thousand on there patches and programs yearly so a chance to get a big payout is often a break even matter.

best thing i could reccommend is to hone your skills, work hard at the hobby, and grow a bigger pumpkin.that seems to always take care of everything.

pap

9/20/2009 9:22:28 AM

Central Ca

Well said

9/20/2009 10:13:08 PM

Iowa

Well maybe if everyone goes to the BIG payout weigh off, you can find another one to go to and with all the big ones wieghed in already, you'll have a better chance at winning. LOL!

9/20/2009 10:16:54 PM

Mulino, Oregon

We work very hard at putting on events. Our main goal is to put on a good show, bring people into the venue and support our sponsors all the while promoting this hobby. We have been very fortunate over the years to have fantastic sponsors step up and help us promote our hobby. We understand that no matter what you do someone will be unhappy, for that we are sorry, however we will always endeavor to make these events as big as possible for our sponsors. There are many events up and down the west coast for growers to attend and I'm sure all the sponsors would appreciate the support.
Thank you everyone who have supported the PGVG, our events and our sponsors over the past years. If you can make it to one of our events this year, please stop by and say'hi' we'd really like to meet you. Good Luck to all of you!

Sincerely,
the board of directors (Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers)

9/20/2009 11:27:47 PM

Vancouver Washington

mymandan...have you looked at the prize structure? They are giving out money all the way down to 35th place,,, If you enter any pumpkin - you also get free dinner for two, and a T-shirt. I think the prizes are well thought out. This should be an awesome event. Bauman farms is a really cool place.

9/20/2009 11:38:55 PM

Anchorage Alaska

Pap What you forgot to say is get more money .I'm sure if every grower spent a thousand or two on their patch ,there would be a lot more heavy hitters..After all capitol is the great equalizer..lol.

9/20/2009 11:41:42 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

I mean no offense, but I don't agree with you Dale. Having money doesn't mean you can grow something. It takes more than just that...

9/22/2009 12:18:30 PM

Anchorage Alaska

JRO no offense taking ,and I agree with you 100 percent..I'm just saying ,that if somebody spends thousands on their patch,versus somebody who can't .there must be some advantage...or they wouldn't do it.lol..

9/22/2009 9:10:04 PM

Gold Hill, Oregon

my pumpkin is no prize winner. this i know after the patch tour and the killer powdery mildew got them. i just hope it doesn't rot before i get it there. but i'm going. can't wait to see the pumpkin drop into the swimming pool. hope they have them italian sausage dogs there, like you get at fair, i love them things. looking forward to seeing all those huge pumpkins they grow up north.

9/23/2009 5:10:57 AM

Washington

mymandan, I believe the officers of the club did a great job in trying to address the wants of the sponsors and the growers.
I know of no other pumpkin contest that pays out to 35th place! Half Moon Bay pays to 10th, Uesugi Farms pays out to 10th. The sponsors want a world record to draw paying crowds to their events. Half Moon Bay is offering $6.00 a pound (1700 pounds = $10,200). If sponsors want the largest pumpkin in the world or new world record they have to compete with the other west coast contests. The PGVG has always offered special awards to the best new grower, thus encouraging new growers. PGVG has sponsored new grower workshops and gives seeds to all members. As a group they have never turned a grower away. I have been to other contest with minimum size restriction (300 pounds). If the pumpkin/squash weighed less than 300 it was not allowed in the contest, new grower or not. This is a very competitive sport, not a goverment handout or a grade school sports team where everbody gets a trophy. It is competition with one goal for every grower, grow the biggest pumpkin in the world if you can. Personally, if I get 35th place that means I was the 34th loser. I do not want or deserve any prize for 35th place. Everyone has the same chances, the same weather and the same seeds. It takes a lot of hard work to be the best at what you do. When someone finally reachs his/her goal they should also receive the rewards. Remember - at one time every HEAVY HITTER was a new grower who made the decision to put in the time and effort to move to the next level. It is time for you to decide, are you looking for a handout or do you want to stand out in this sport? Jack LaRue

10/1/2009 1:36:18 AM

Washington

As I am reading the above posts it reminded me of the people who have won or placed in the top 5 over the past few years. Sure there are many 'heavy hitters' but also newer growers as well. To name a few new growers: Thad Starr has only been entering pumpkins for the past 5 years or less, Dan Orleck did well as a new grower, Sandy Jefferson has multiple entries on the GPC page. The reason you see a lot of the same names whether it be PGVG or the Ohio group or New England, etc. is that these are the people who spend a lot of time, effort and yes money growing giants. I won Half Moon Bay in 1997 with prize money at $2000 for first place. Lincoln Mettler won the following year at so much per pound. In 1999 both Lincoln and I entered pumpkins that weighed in the 500 pound range. We knew we weren't in contention for the 'big' money but we still entered. After splits, that was one of my biggest that year. We were all new at this at one time and have gotten better. Many prize schedules are discussed with the sponsors. They usually set the main prizes and keep the pumpkins that win the big money for their displays. The lessor prizes, if you will, are suggested by the club members. I know that Jim invited members at the spring meeting to email him their ideas about prize money and tried to accommodate the majority. I might point out that not a lot of members even bothered to respond to him. Sherry LaRue

Notice this post from Elk Grove, California - Now offering $6 a lb AND A $2500 BONUS IF IT IS A NEW WR. C'mon over to Elk Grove. !!!! Don? Christy? Bring your sunscreen and a big pumpkin!

10/1/2009 2:00:34 AM