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Team Munson

Sorry for getting this out so late but it is that time of year to find out who the outstanding rookies were in 2013.

Please post here if you know of a grower who meets this criteria:

Rookie of the year award: This award will go to the grower of the heaviest official fruit from all first year growers who have never entered any pumpkin into competition previously. This pumpkin may be entered at any GPC sanctioned event. The grower and fruit must adhere to all rules stated in Article II, color will not be a deciding factor. The site will be responsible for submittal of information as stated in Article I Section 8.

Thank you for your help!!!

11/14/2013 8:34:46 AM

Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada

I think Mike Aasman with 1320.5 at Port Elgin on Saturday might qualify

11/14/2013 7:14:05 PM

Kaukauna, Wisconsin

1779.5 by Joe Warner of Minnesota
1318.5 by Travis Halverson of Wisconsin. To bad the 1622 that Travis brought to Nekoosa was damaged.

11/14/2013 7:46:37 PM

Ely Mn

Joe werner with his 1779.5 hands down!

11/14/2013 8:16:02 PM

Minnesota

Here's what I think: This was my first year to get a pumpkin to a gpc scale but it was also my 3rd year growing giant pumpkins. I ran into a lot of bumps my first two years of growing that definitely helped the 1779 get to the scale this year. In my opinion rookie of the year should be given to a true rookie that has never grown an Atlantic giant before this year.
I'd say count me out.

Joe werner

11/16/2013 12:13:05 AM

England, essex

I thought it was the case,,
well done joe ;-)

11/16/2013 5:11:26 AM

Rhode Island

joe thats showing a lot of class. you will go very far in this hobby.
pap

11/17/2013 9:04:21 AM

Team Munson

I will second Pap's comments Joe it is obvious you have much integrity.

I have recieved notice that Wayne O'Brien had a 845#er Gary's Greenhouse in Indianapolis IN.

Gotta be more first year growers with big results out there, so far we have:

1,320.5 - Mike Aasman
1,318.5 - Travis Halverson
845 - Wayne O'Brien

11/18/2013 9:22:50 AM

Santa Rosa, CA.

Jason Booth 1455.5 at Elk Grove

11/19/2013 4:40:41 PM

Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada

if I may.... Joe does have much integrity, (lots of class there Joe) but .....if the rules are written that it must be their first fruit to a GPC scale then Joe's first GPC pumpkin should count

11/19/2013 5:21:16 PM

SE Minnesota

Agreed Sally

11/19/2013 6:54:53 PM

England, essex

lol,,,,,,
so i can grow for the next 10 yrs then take a pumpkin to a gpc weigh off and still be a rookie?
this is my 3rd year growing, 2 yrs I failed to get one to the end, am I a rookie?
took my pumpkin to a weigh off this year, the scales were too small for my kin, am I still a rookie?

11/20/2013 6:15:59 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

According to the rules yes

11/20/2013 7:34:50 AM

Lexington, Ky

Humble as he may be, he's still the winner. Congrats Joe!

11/20/2013 1:49:55 PM

England, essex

sure takes the shine off winning that title to me then,
good luck to you all.

11/20/2013 5:55:53 PM

Western NY

If Dave's first post are the criteria then Joe is out because it states: This award will go to the grower of the heaviest official fruit from all FIRST YEAR GROWERS who have never entered any pumpkin into competition previously.

11/20/2013 6:23:55 PM

(rocky) Bonney Lake Wa.

1,081.00 Hulsey, Kelly enumclaw Washington He is a first year grower out of Enumclaw

11/20/2013 10:19:21 PM

(rocky) Bonney Lake Wa.

1,019.50 Rosquita, Paul renton Washington was also a first year grower

11/20/2013 10:34:15 PM

west central IN/East central IL

Fisherray, that's what is misleading about "rookie of the Yr.". It only applies to GPC entered fruit. Whether you have been growing for 10yrs. or are a true 1yr. grower(which is truly a rookie) and you enter a GPC for the 1st time, then that's what they have to go on. It would be too difficult to look up other non sanctioned weigh-offs (county fairs, festivals or what have you. Most 1st yr. growers don't understand what it actually takes to grow a giant (soil nutrient levels especially) and that's why they don't enter, but with a couple yrs. experience and knowledge like Joe stated, then it's possible to grow 1200+. I agree with Joe, this was my 1st yr. and I entered GPC contest, but if I would have waited to enter 1st time next yr. then to me ROTY wouldn't mean anything to me. With that said, and rules being as they are, congratulations Joe and I hope I achieve those weights within the next 2yrs myself.

11/20/2013 11:23:57 PM

Western NY

Mega and others, I went back and read previous years posts about roty and those posts confirm what you are saying, doesn't make sense to me after reading the rule but they have to track it some how and GPC weigh off and BP it is.

11/21/2013 6:47:00 PM

Sw Wi

I would decline also, this was my 2nd year growing. I owe the majority of my success to my mentor Caleb Jacobus. Without his knowledge I would not have gotten close to the weights I did this year. I only hope to be able to pass on what I know to someone else.
Travis Halverson

11/21/2013 7:49:18 PM

Team Munson

The Rookie of the Year was designed to recognize those first year exhibitors who had outstanding accomplishments. This has been a valued award since it's inception many years ago & one we look forward to giving each year.

The unfortunate part is we only have the GPC results to use as reference to check the history of a grower & must then rely on the integrity of the grower & the growers nominating them as a true rookie.

This is also a GPC award so there lies the next quandary should exhibiting at nonsanctioned GPC events count towards a GPC award? This is the only GPC award where this is an issue so should it be considered for just this award?

In this case we have Joe Werner who declined the ROY award, the GPC will honor his request & the committee commends him for his honorable gesture.

11/22/2013 3:21:35 PM

Rhode Island

i think keeping the "rookie of the year award" inside the gpc site awards umbrella is the correct thing to do.
its difficult enough to sort out the gpc rookies, immagine having to verify from non sites? even more problems.

personally --- i think the person recording statistics at each gpc weigh-off should ask growers when they register "IS THIS YOUR FIRST YEAR GROWING GIANT PUMPKINS"?
denote this with a (r)NEXT TO THEIR NAME ON THE GPC RESULTS FORM.?

just a thought. of course this would mean each site needs to follow thru for this to be a success.
we cant expect the gpc executives to put more work on their backs.

Pap

11/23/2013 9:21:39 AM

South East

Maybe...

The GPC should investigate the idea of creating a grower data base.


Pretty simple. Sign up just once and now you are in the data base and we know you are a grower. If you are not in the data base you are not eligble for any GPC awards.

What such a databasa would do, is not only set clear boundries for awards like rookie of the year.(the gpc would know how long your are growing) but it would also clearly measure the growth of this hobby.

If in year one 1200 people sign up then we would have a good idea of the size of competitive pumpkin growing.
If in year two its 1400 people we know its growing. I dont think theres any clear means of monitoring the hobbys growth right now. Guestimating is more then often faulty.

Gpc regional reps could involve clubs and within a two year span, all competitive giant pumpkin growers could be in a data base, with personal best, residence and contact information if desired. Motivated representatives, and engaging the clubs would be essential in getting the community to sign up. BP.com could an essential tool to.

The extra work for the gpc would be minimal. The one time creation of a sign up form which could be added to the GPC website and occasional maintance which could be done with regular gpc website maintanance.
I know of at least one person in the gpc who would have little to no problems creating this. The information gained would be worth the effort for sure.

Keeping records like mentioned above , reduces wild guessing, and creates a reference for when people questions GPC decision or peoples integrity. And although i know the GPC is not a club, it does reward indiviual growers. Hens a data base.

Just something to think about during this winter,

Frank Finders
SGPG

11/24/2013 12:24:24 AM

Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada

I like this idea Frank - although, the problem (and the work) would come in removing the individuals as they drop off - ask Ken how many inactive accounts are on BP for instance. I'm afraid "flash in the panners" would sign up only to decide they are not actually interested in growing giant vegetables after all and the numbers would therefore still be inflated for growth in our hobby. Just thought I would point this out as another thing to think about during the winter discussions if a database is going to be considered.

11/24/2013 9:49:38 AM

South East

Sign up could be a bi-yearly or ever 3 year cycle. Heck, the whole account could be grower maintainted in where once your in, after two or three years your data expires and have to re-enter.

In sports, being registered with an organisation to be able to compete is quite normal. To do this for weigh offs would be to ambitious, BUT to be eligble for GPC awards and to start tracking the size of our hobby this could be a very valuable tool.

Is some one going to have to set this up? yes. Is it the perfect system? no. Would it be a positive effort trying to move forward in this hobby while improving the the overall quality of the GPC. Absolutely.
After all, maintaing a status quo is no progress.

I challenge you Sally and anyone else who reads this to instead of finding faults in the idea, to come up with solutions to make it work. Thats a lot harder, but in the end a lot more satisfying.

Frank Finders
SGPG

11/24/2013 11:51:23 AM

Windsor California

I was shocked and honored to have recieved the rookie of the year award today at Elk Grove. But like joe, it was also my third year growing AG's. If I do not meet the requirements, or if there is someone more deserving then myself, I will gladly give up the award.
Jason Booth

3/1/2014 10:05:17 PM