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Hamilton, MT

Come join us at Montana's 2nd Annual Bitterroot GIant Pumpkin Weigh Off in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley, South of Missoula. Hosted by the Corn Field Maze.

Date: September 20th, 2003
Time: Registration at 1 pm, Weigh Off at 2 pm.
Where: The Corn Field Maze, Hwy 93 South, milemarker 55,
half way between Victor, MT and Hamilton, MT
Who: YOU
What: Your biggest fruits, of course.
Why: Bragging Rights for the Montana State Record!

9/12/2003 12:41:29 AM

North Ga

Kim'
Rick said there was more rock than soil when he dug up his basement in the Yaak so he won't have a fruit till next season. Bear is setting up a patch!!

9/14/2003 1:55:19 AM

Hamilton, MT

I'm not sure where it is appropriate to post the results of our HUGE event, but here goes...
Competition Class
Place    Name     Weight
1    Len and Kiana Ballek    500
2    Mike Violette     446
3    Kim and Mike Thomas    410
4    Mike Violette     348
5    Tad Kolwicz     335
6    Mason Simmons     325
7    Annalivia Bishop    309
8    Don Coon     309
9    Tanner Thomas     291
10    Diane Kenski     253
11    Elise Estus     188
12    Jane and Steve Stoll    167
13    Brit Brintnall     162
14    Sedona Gaudin     136
15    Pat Sweeney     125
16    Kathleen Freeman    118
17    Dave Moak     112
18    Clarence Fogel     99
19    Khyley and Tiffany Haugan 89.5
20    Laurence Dempsey     86.5
21    Pat Fosse     80.5
22    David and Tanya Stickler 77.5
23    Henry and Helen Garber-Madeen    74
24    Laurie Blinn     68
25    Adin Kloetzel     64.5
26    Cindy King     60.5
27    Chance and Lily Sage    60
28    David and Tanya Stickler 42
29    Laurie Blinn     41
30    Thelma Wesson     39.5
Exhibition Class
1    Shawn Keele     77
2    Chris Fisk     12.5
3    Tyler Coorough     11
4    Amber Ibey     7.0
Honorable Mention Category
Kim Thomas – for the prettiest pumpkin
Chris Fisk – for traveling the furthest: 185 miles from Butte, MT

9/21/2003 10:31:05 PM

Hamilton, MT

I can't stop at just the results alone...

All I can say is WOW, WOW, WOW! On Saturday, 9/20, we staged the 2nd Annual Bitterroot Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off in Hamilton, MT - and what an event it was! All aspects of this event exceeded my expectations - the weather, the crowd, the pumpkin entries, and did I mention the pumpkin entries?

Congratulations to Len Ballek for growing a monster at 500Lbs!!!
Len grew the new Montana State Record for 2003. Will he be able to defend his title next year??

Last year we staged our first event and were thrilled with 12 entries from 8 growers for an average of 109.5 lbs. This year the trucks with giant orange fruit started lining up at 1130 and we finally were ready to weigh them at 2pm! All tolled we had 30 growers (25 1st time growers!), 34 pumpkin entries ranging from 7lbs to 500lbs for an average weight of 162.5. Amazingly, 10 pumpkins were over 200lbs! I couldn't be more proud of our success and growth this year.

Congratulations to every single grower and a HUGE thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors who helped make this all possible. THANK YOU!

9/21/2003 10:33:56 PM

Hamilton, MT

Pappy,
I was looking for the Yaak contingent - no show!
Well the Yaak-sters will have some formidable competition if and when they produce a pumpkin.
It'd be so great if they'd join in.

9/21/2003 10:37:01 PM

Farmington, Utah

Congrats to all

9/21/2003 10:52:43 PM

Covington, WA

Wow wow wow wow, that is great. It seems you have gotten something started that can only get bigger. I expect the pumpkins will too in coming years. That is a great turnout for a new event in a challenging area for growing giants. Congratulations too all who participated and those folks who put it all together. I'll bet it was a lot of fun for everyone involved.

9/21/2003 11:18:38 PM

Puyallup, WA

What a great "turn-out" for only the 2nd year of the event!
A job well done! :>)

9/21/2003 11:21:22 PM

Wa

Wow is right, Great attendance!!! I see good things ahead for MT.

9/23/2003 9:06:57 PM

North Ga

Congrats on the great turn-out Kim, and also for your fruit!! Do you have any pics you can post? I'll keep on houndin' those folks up there in the Yaak.

9/25/2003 10:04:13 AM

Hamilton, MT

My plea to all who read this... I have offered up free seeds to anyone who asks in my area, in an effort to get a community of growers established in Montana. I've been tapped out twice this past year and have told folks they'll have to wait for this years stock. I don't pretend to have any of the highly coveted seeds. Most of these growers are first timers and are impressed with their fruits with little effort exerted. Once they're hooked they can seek out more favorable seed if desired. It has been great fun and I'm proud to announce our giant pumpkin population has more than tripled this year.
I am forever groveling for anyone's no-name seeds, bulk is better, so I can continue to infect the hobby growers here. If anyone out there has viable seeds to give up for this cause please contact me. Please, and thank you, in advance. KT

9/30/2003 10:45:17 PM