From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Kaukauna, Wisconsin

Most of the GPC Weigh Offs are held at public events. With the prize money being put up by sponsors. These events want to get value for the the money they provide.
So if you want more prize money, you have to provide more value.




As a member of the GPC my job enforce the rules as the are written. All sports need rules for fair play.

10/9/2015 7:56:23 AM

Germany

Is "entertainment value" of a pumpkin the essential ingredient for the GPC rules? You already mentioned "Most of the GPC Weigh Offs...", which means NOT ALL OF THEM (at least not necessarily).

Rules in any kind of sports should only address FAIR PLAY (same rules for all players), they should not address MONETARY ISSUES.

Would you want to change GPC rules if sponsors asked for some changes? (just imagine a sponsor would like to see only round and shiny orange pumpkins on the scales of the weigh-off which is supported by this sponsor...that´s definitely a matter which could be called entertainment value).

10/9/2015 8:20:34 AM

Germany

BTW, the Howard Dill Award is something which already honors a pumpkin with entertainment value. In this context, I recall having read posts which say that on some weigh-offs the HDA had been given to a Field Pumpkin. Is there any GPC rule which makes this impossible now? (at least in my opinion the HDA should go to an Atlantic Giant, a pretty one of course). If there is such a rule now, what happened to the FPs which had received the HDA in the past?

10/9/2015 8:23:40 AM

Glosta

Until I started growing I never noticed any problems on pumpkins. I attended every Topsfield fair until I got married and have only missed one since. the giant pumpkins were always cool to me. They provided entertainment value. But we always called them ugly. The general public doesn't know nor do they care. They only see a big ugly blob that amazes them. So it is your view not the public's nor the sponsors that says they are not acceptable. Don't speak for the public with a growers point of view.

10/9/2015 9:26:45 AM

South East

There was a time when the backyard grower was celebrated during a weigh off. When the sheer achievement of getting a giant to the scale was enough. And making a few bucks was a bonus.

Do we now have to meet certain "standards" or provide " entertainment value" to satisfy corporate or other entities who have no other interest then getting exposure for them selves. I go to a weigh off to find out what my fruit weighs, I'm not giving a show.

Higher prizes at weigh offs are not necessarily a good thing. You run the risk of being owned and directed by sponsorship, when the weigh off should ONLY be about celebrating a growers hard work.

maybe I'm just to naive..

10/9/2015 9:35:37 AM

Marion, Wisconsin

There are other events that are not GPC sanctioned. If you are not happy with the GPC rules you could always go to a non-sanctioned weigh off or start a new weigh off if one doesn't exist in your area.

10/9/2015 12:06:11 PM

Wixom MI.

I agree with glen 100% the truth is i have never heard of a sponcor tring to change the GPC rules.that being said, i wouldnt see anything wrong if a small sponcor olny wonted to suport a singe portion of an event. Such as the watermellon or tomato class for example,or a larger prize for a howard dill pumpkin. I dont think that happens right now,but i see nothing wrong if a sponsor only wonted to suport part of an event.it may may even bring in more sponsor help ??? Just my opinion.

10/9/2015 1:16:41 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

chris
what you just said is exactly one of the directions I am pushing to get sponsors for either individual awards or class awards.
We have had a pretty good response to this also.
We will continue to strive for professionalism in all our endeavors.

10/9/2015 1:36:18 PM

Colorado

Most of the heavy ones are show stoppers for their size/weight and frankly their not looking like any pumpkin the public is familiar with. Shock value. How many times have growers had to explain " yes that's a pumpkin".The pretty(orange-nice shape) are as much a relief to the audience as they are entertaining.A 1965 with a big ass scar is very entertaining:)

10/9/2015 1:39:09 PM

Usa

A claw mark on a pumpkin from June that grows into a large scar by October is cool. The large chunk of soft flesh chewed out by a raccoon that heals over the summer like a pruned tree limb is cool. Handfuls of rot scooped out from large splits in late September and crusted over is not cool. It's not about entertainment or sponsors, but part of the pursuit is getting a healthy pumpkin to the weigh-off. Other vegetable growing contests judge color, shape, uniform features and unblemished skin and there is nothing less noble about participating in these events. One of the few standards in giant pumpkin growing is that the fruit must not be rotting and even then there is a 3" allowance. This decision by the GPC committee is about protecting fair play.

10/9/2015 3:01:10 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Killdeer, I bet that fair play you speak of would be changed had it been an old time grower rather than a 23 year old up and comer. The fact the GPC has admitted to making their mind up without personally seeing the pumpkin and before the weighoff throws some red flags. Then they text a judge who ends up disagreeing, but the GPC who had already made their mind up to disqualify the pkn refuse to tell the actual grower, Josiah. Why didn't anyone reach out to him? If that was Ron Wallace I think none of this would have happened.

10/9/2015 8:36:09 PM

Wixom MI.

Good luck iceman !!! i think that your idea would really help grow our hobby.

10/9/2015 8:41:41 PM

Citrus Heights, CA

Smallmouth, Yeah it would not have happened to Ron Wallace. He would have DQ himself, if that pumpkin was his. Just like I DQ myself after finding five small soft spots on my Uesugi Farms pumpkin tonight when picking it up to load.
The growers need to know and follow the rules. Ron Root

10/9/2015 11:32:36 PM

Wixom MI.

I agree bambam i think a veteran grower, one that has entered a minimun of 5 weighoffs have witnessed or experienced the agony of defeat, understands the DMG result.luke just asking if you are aware that the spot in question was more than 12" around ? I did not no that myself until matt w. Pointed that out to me. All i ever saw was a 5" wide and 5" deep well healed spot !!! Like you i thought josaih was robbed, but when you see the second and much large spot of 12"-16" you realize that no one has ever bee acepted with a spot that large. That being said because growers are becoming sucsefull at saving and healing these large areas i think that the GPC should review these 5 year old rulesand seed if they need to update some parts of these rules. Maybe increasing the size from 3" to 5" or if it enters the cavity witch i faver. The one i think needs to be eliminated is the two or more soft spots no mater how small they are. In my opinion you can find that on over half of the pumpkins. Luke im not trying to offend you or anyone hear im just not sure if you were aware of the larger soft spot in question because i was not ?

10/10/2015 10:47:07 AM

Knopp, Germany

Even though I have been attacked for various reasons I still try to hold a un-biased view of what the rules say and how they are interpreted.

If a pumpkin comes to a event and does not have a soft spot, then my interpretation of the rules is that it should be weighed official.

If it comes to the event and 3" or more must be removed, per the rules DMG.

What am I missing here? I will be the first to admit I am wrong if you can explain that to me.

- A serious soft spot is one that is greater than 3 inches in diameter, and greater than 3 inches deep.

Even if it is not soft at the pre judging? Others have claimed if a deer or other animal caused it and it healed that should be okay if scabbed over. Why is human intervention banned?

BTW, for those that do not think that some of the "God" figures of our sport overlook the rules you are wrong, pictures do not lie. Check my diary, I didn't post everything so that you would not be disappointed. And I will not post everything, you can hate me all you want, but all I want is for you to see the error in the GPC decision.

10/10/2015 11:13:28 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

No offense taken Chris. I do truly believe that Steil and Josiah believe that they made the correct decisions. I don't think either made choices to undermine the committees decision before the weighoff. in other words, I don't think they were trying to get away with anything as some have implied.

Have a good weekend

10/10/2015 11:43:42 AM