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Raleigh, North Carolina

Registration: August 1, 2014 thru September 29, 2014. $5.00 entry fee per exhibitor.

More information at www.ncstatefair.org

Contact: Denise.Walker@ncagr.gov.

7/10/2014 1:40:55 PM

Farming- a bunch of catastrophies that result in a lifestyle

I was reading the rules....we can only bring one pumpkin, and we have to leave it there from the 14th-27th....I'm not real comfortable leaving my kin there for 13 days....is this normal for weigh offs???

7/10/2014 4:31:32 PM

Farming- a bunch of catastrophies that result in a lifestyle

Spoke with Denise, she is going to speak with her people and see about the 13 days. Very nice lady!! She will let us know something first of the week as she will be in class tomorrow. The rot potential boggles my mind.

7/10/2014 5:01:06 PM

President - GPC

They need to ensure security of the fruit, too many folkZ think they are for climbing on, standing on, poking, and lifting by the stem.....

7/10/2014 5:11:56 PM

Winston Salem, NC

They do an excellent job at the fair with putting up barriers and having people man the display the whole time the fair is running.

7/10/2014 5:49:04 PM

Farming- a bunch of catastrophies that result in a lifestyle

My biggest concern is the fruit going down, or after 13 days of sitting in a hot atmosphere it splitting/leaking all over the place trying to get it back home again. D said the weigh off is the 14th, and the fair starts on the 16th, I'm hoping to be able to just take them, get them weighed and bring them home again.
She was pretty awesome to talk to, and they are really excited to be doing a weigh off for the first time too.

7/11/2014 6:30:42 AM

Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada

A lot of weigh-offs keep the winners for display purposes - this is not uncommon at all

7/11/2014 10:17:53 AM

Farming- a bunch of catastrophies that result in a lifestyle

SS, yes, but for how long?

7/11/2014 10:43:25 AM

Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada

At Port Elgin we only hold the one Saturday winner overnight for Sunday display purposes but I've heard of other weigh-offs that hold them for way longer than one week - perhaps others can expand on this, it is not my place to discuss other weigh-off locations' policies

7/11/2014 11:00:03 AM

Jericho Vermont

Our local fair holds them for the 9 day run in northern VT. There are a few of us that volunteer to man the area and we also do the set up to insure that the pumpkins will be as safe as possible. There are still thumbnail digs and hand slaps with french fry grease hands. The building is air conditioned though. My opinion is that I "grow em to show em" and that is pretty hard to do in my back yard.

7/11/2014 7:22:18 PM

sevierville, Tn

I'm very excited to see this and am planning on bringing a "BIG" one . They put a lot of work into getting it set up. If everything goes good, we hope they will move it to when the fair is open next year. Many experienced growers in NC had a hand in helping them get going AND will be there to make sure it goes good !
Thanks Denise

7/11/2014 9:49:44 PM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

MN state fair is 13 days, I never had a giant pumpkin go down, but others have, if they have any holes to the interior they will not last.

7/11/2014 11:15:49 PM

Raleigh, North Carolina

Attention Growers:
In keeping with the rules of the fair and our other competitions, all entries will be retained for the duration of the fair. Please rest assured that your entries will be staff monitored in a climate controlled facility. Our trained staff will alert you to any deterioration of your entry, and upon request, will safely extract seeds on your behalf. Please notify our Horticulture Superintendent, April Blazich, at aprilb@bellsouth.net if you do not intend to pick up your entry on October 27, 2014.

7/14/2014 1:40:54 PM

Farming- a bunch of catastrophies that result in a lifestyle

^ Denise is awesome people!!! While driving back for my monster sucketh, LOL, I feel LOADS better about my seeds in the pumpkin! Thanks Denise, you guys are awesome!

7/14/2014 2:01:06 PM

Washington Co. Va.

what is the pay out for 1 thou 3

7/18/2014 2:58:03 PM

Arden, NC

Ken, The premiums for pumpkins and watermelons are the same:
WATERMELONS
$1,250
$750
$500
$400
$250
$125
$75
$50
$50
$50

You can see the rules and entry info at this link:

http://www.ncstatefair.org/2014/Competitions/Entering/documents/GreatPumpkinWatermelonWeighOff.pdf

7/18/2014 3:45:23 PM

Partlow,Va

First of all I am glad to see a new GPC weigh-off in the south. But I am very disappointed that the weigh-off is 2 days BEFORE THE FAIR OPENS (and on a Tuesday) and pickup is the day AFTER the fair closes....sorry to yell but we had planned to bring one down and I just looked at that. I hope maybe next year the times can be adjusted to draw entries from farther away. It's just hard for us to take the time from work, esp. with the fair not open. My 2 cents. Best wishes and success!

9/2/2014 4:46:44 PM

Home of happy lil plants

I wish it was when fair was open too...

I need my fair food!!!

and wish it wasn't an only top 3 stay there for example that might make it little less rough for those traveling as top 3 atleast have gas money to come pick it up with no excuse and those below top 3 are given the option to leave it or not?

Just throwing ideas for the future

9/2/2014 5:58:27 PM

sevierville, Tn

I beleve this is a "lets get started and see how it goes". Next year will be better after their feet get wet.

9/2/2014 6:14:59 PM