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Oak Grove, Mn

During the winter, we had some good discussion on this board about The Howard Dill award criteria and how the winner is chosen. I think that it might be time for the orange growers to contact their local club to offer advice and help. Without your assistance the award will never reach the highest standard.

5/6/2016 1:18:19 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Great point Bob.
I'm wondering, is there any GPC criteria or protocol to go by when judging the Howard Dill Award? I know it's been discussed, but I think a minimum weight to qualify for the award should be considered. As a pumpkin gets larger, it's shape can become less desirable. How do you compare a nicely shaped and colored 200# pumpkin with a 1200# Howard Dill candidate?

5/7/2016 3:17:03 PM

Pinetops,n.c.

judging for a hd award is largely subject to personal opinion of the individual judges, what i mean is, some may only notice color, others may only recognize shape or size and as long as the pumpkin is somewhat orange the color may or may not influence a judges vote.i myself think color and shape should be equally awarded , i also agree that a larger pumpkin that retains a nice shape should be rewarded also, but again there is orange, and then there is O R A N G E , like i said, each judge will vote how their minds eye leads them, and that may not always be how others see it,
but there sure aint nothing like a bright orange nicely shaped pumpkin to make all ages smile, and thats the vote i want. i am very proud of the hd award my daughter and i won a couple years back, and badly want to win more, but i'll take the smiles on kids (and grown ups alike) faces as the ultimate award.

5/7/2016 3:41:33 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I have made a proposal to the local club here to present the award based on grower vote. I am sure it is being discussed. As far as I know,the GPC doesn't have any written guidelines for the Howard Dill award. I could be wrong. I wish i was a better writer to come up with a help sheet for the voting growers to remind them of all the qualities that they can evaluate. This board has been a great help. We can make it better.

5/7/2016 6:24:36 PM

Claysburg , PA

If a standard is going to be set judging for the Howard Dill award it should be GPC

5/7/2016 7:41:54 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

GPC-Howard Dill award: This award will be given to the grower of the prettiest, symmetric, orange or orange-red pumpkin. How the winner is decided based on this description will be up to each site coordinator.

5/7/2016 9:06:32 PM

Cincinnati,OH

From what I've gathered over lo these many years. If a contest is subjective, rather than scientific, you just have to live with the results. Since the whole idea of this sport is size, weight should be leading factor. Since color is major player and so subjective it should be 2nd consideration. In a tightly contested weigh-off symmetry could be the tie breaker.

5/7/2016 9:50:38 PM

Western NY

As Linus posted, the GPC has a rule but I dont think it is known by all sites!

5/7/2016 9:51:47 PM

Western NY

Ron, the Howard Dill Award has little to do with size, except maybe a 500 lb minimum, so color and shape are key!

5/7/2016 9:56:51 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

my thoughts...the heaviest slightly orange pumpkin might not be the proper howard dill award winner. Weight is important but it is definately local affected. With my my soil, and latitude, I feel i could put a seed in my 600 sq foot patch and grow 500 pounds with the only care of watering it, ever few days. Last year 350 pounds in 150 sq feet with no care. Those that live in more challenging environment...the frigid north or the equator....would find that a lower weight limit is more fair. I believe that the sites should set a minimum weight taking into account the size of the pumpkins that are grown in their local area. After that, it becomes a balance of all characteristics. Almost all pretty qualities are easier to hold the smaller the pumpkin is. Symmetry, skin texture etc. As Doug commented how do you compare the a 200# pumpkin against a 1200#. The hardcore orange growers might know...but does the average big grower know?

5/7/2016 10:56:20 PM

NE Arkansas

Well bnot is right... weight can't be set on a worldwide line... im from the south and I won a HD award last year with 329 lbs... 420 lbs won 1st place... growing kins in 110° weather isn't easy... but we still do it...

5/7/2016 11:14:58 PM

Western NY

I did not mean for a 500 lb minimum for GPC it was just an example from local weigh offs because we are in the good weather zone.

5/8/2016 8:22:39 AM

NILES , CALIF

The gpc did have a weight requirement for the Howard dill;
then they upped and changed it?
They let the site coordinator decide on how to award
a Howard dill;
It should be decided by the Growers first,not a
coordinator.

5/8/2016 8:46:53 AM

South Hero, VT

I go by crowd reaction, rather than judges' decisions.

If people are mesmerized by a pumpkin, touch it, and take pictures of their kids next to it, I consider that pumpkin a Howard Dill Award winner.

5/8/2016 9:46:41 AM

Central Illinois

If you have 15 growers voting then add in 15 random people from the crowd.

5/8/2016 11:19:41 AM

Rhode Island

TO THE GPC AND SITE /CLUB DIRECTORS

JUST A THOUGHT " I KNOW IM NOT A HOWARD DILL CANDIDATE MOST SEASONS "BUT I HAVE MANY FRIENDS THAT ARE.

OPINIONS ARE LIKE VOICES-EVERYBODY HAS ONE. BEAUTY IS IN THE EVE OF THE BEHOLDER.IF YOU ASK TEN PEOPLE THE SAME QUESTION YOU MAY GET TEN DIFFERENT ANSWERS.

PERSONALLY,THERE IS NO WAY TO SATISFY EVERYONE. NO MATTER WHOS PUMPKIN GETS SELECTED THERES ALWAYS AT LEAST ONE OTHER GROWER (OR MORE) WHO DO NOT AGREE.

MORE AND MORE GROWERS ARE DEDICATING THERE SUMMERS WORK TO GROWING THE PERFECT SHAPE-SIZE AND COLORED GIANT PUMPKIN.ITS JUST UNFORTUNATE THAT ONLY ONE CAN BE SELECTED AT EACH SITE.

IM THINKING A WAY TO ELIMINATE ANY TENSION OR HARD FEELINGS IS ---

1. HAVE A COMMITTEE OF SAY THREE CLUB/OR SITE OFFICIALS.
THEY SELECT FIVE GROWERS WHO HAVE ENTERED WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE HOWARD DILL AWARD CANDIDATES
2. BRING THE FIVE GROWERS TOGETHER AND HAVE THEM VOTE WHO THEY CONSIDER THE HOWARD DILL AWARD WINNER TO BE.

HOW THEY VOTE

EACH FINALIST GETS TO VOTE BY ASSIGNING A POINT TOTAL AWARDED TO EACH OF THE OTHER FOUR FINALISTS--- YOU MAY ONLY ASSIGN A NUMBER ONE THRU FOUR ONCE TO A GROWER.YOU DO NOT VOTE FOR YOURSELF.EXAMPLE--HERE IS HOW ONE OF THE FOUR CANDIDATES MIGHT VOTE.

PETER 4 POINTS
SALLY 2 POINTS
DICK 3 POINTS
KARL 1 POINT

FOUR GROWERS TURN THERE NUMBERED VOTES INTO THE HOWARD DILL SITE COMMITTEE FOR TOTALING AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GROWER WHO WINS THE HOWARD DILL AWARD

A GREAT WAY TO ELIMINATE JUST ABOUT ALL NEGATIVE FEED BACK WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PUTTING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF WHO WINS BACK ONTO THE GROWERS.

PAP

5/8/2016 11:32:06 AM

Rhode Island

sorry my next to last sentence should read ------
five growers then turn there votes into the howard dill site committee for totaling

5/8/2016 11:37:16 AM

Rhode Island

sorry my next to last sentence should read ------
five growers then turn there votes into the howard dill site committee for totaling

5/8/2016 11:37:51 AM

Rhode Island

sorry my next to last sentence should read ------
five growers then turn there votes into the howard dill site committee for totaling

5/8/2016 11:38:42 AM

Rhode Island

hic-cup

5/8/2016 11:39:15 AM

Jericho Vermont

It is my recollection that the HD award came from a majority of sites that had prettiest and ugliest "awards" in the past and the GPC wanted to honor the great Howard by giving his name to the "prettiest" at each site. I don't believe that it was ever intended to be used as a competitive goal. A good competition can only occur if there are repeatable measurements that are the same for everyone regardless of where the weigh in. There is no way in my mind that subjective repeatable measurements ie. shape, color, skin texture, height, can be scored consistently among any two weigh off sites. It is my opinion that some growers put far too much emphasis on the "award at the end" and how many they have gotten or want to get. It is a honor to receive but I am not so sure a "competition" should go along with it. Just my 2 cents.

5/8/2016 12:17:00 PM

NILES , CALIF

Pap;
That is a great and fair way to choose a Howard dill;
lets just put it in the gpc rules ourselves,like a
majority vote wins. Don't need no gpc to think about it
its taken care of.

5/8/2016 3:12:04 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Weight would not work here in Missouri either. Most years the heaviest pumpkin is below 500 pounds with most being in the 200-300 pound range.

5/8/2016 7:26:59 PM

Ohio

I believe some weigh off sites let all the people attending vote for the prettiest pumpkin, not just growers or site coordinators. I think OVGPG is like that, could be wrong though. To me, that is the fairest way to judge for prettiest pumpkin.

5/8/2016 7:37:47 PM

Western NY

Maybe having crowd voting for top 5 and then growers picking is a good way to do it! If you have a local grower with a lot of support from friends and family in the crowd that could give them an unfair advantage! I have seen a bright orange kin that had blossom end totally grown over that people thought should be the winner.

5/8/2016 8:51:48 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

some crowds are just too huge to be voting

5/8/2016 9:08:02 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

I was just thinking that Bob(bnot). The Stillwater weighoff had a mega-crowd last year. The crowd around the pumpkins was tremendous, and made walking around difficult. And so many pumpkins were entered.
zepfan(gary), maked some good points that I agree with. I've seen people gravitate, and take pictures around the prettier pumpkins, sometimes more so than the largest ones. I like this conversation so far. Some good suggestions have been made.

5/8/2016 10:22:48 PM

Johnston, R.I.

I don't see the problem here... The H D award is always going to be based on the opinion of a group of individuals, this is something that has to be accepted.. When you put a pumpkin on the scale the weight is final, no questions about that. Every weighoff is going to be different, there is no mold or template to put over a pumpkin to see if it fits, so opinion it is. Accept it and enjoy the day..

5/9/2016 3:45:57 AM

50 Acres

Since the award is named after Howard Dill. I think the Dill family should have some in put regarding rules.

5/9/2016 9:39:31 AM

President - GPC

Howard Dill Criteria Food for Thought

Should be chosen by club judges - not left open to the crowd (we actually had a grower try and taint the crowd one year" and stuff the voting box. Crowd is not versed in HD criteria. (i.e. -Choose a 30 lb. Pepo over a 500 lb. AG) especially when it gets close....

Categories for judges vote weight consideration:

Depth of Orange color, Shiny vs cantalouped, Symmetrical, then weight/ size as well (it’s much harder to grow a 1200 pound beauty than it is a 500 pounder).

Free of scratch marks, and growing cracks. Just because its BIG and happens to be orange, I have seen many UGLY Huge Orange pumpkins... Shiny, Molteled Orange is a beauty to behold..

Has a stem.

Just some food for thought on judging.

Note this is Wizzy's opinion not the GPC. We have done this in our club over the years.... It has worked well.

5/9/2016 9:50:37 AM

Honesdale, Pennsylvania

Over the years I have seen several HD winners awarded in which the judges must have had blinders on. Much to the dismay of the growers. These were cases which a MC who was not a pumpkin grower selected the winner and another circumstance in which a director just flat out got it wrong. There were some hard feelings over the decision and emotions ran high. When all of the growers cast a vote it normally is spot on. When cash is involved for the HD award in my opinion I would like to see 3 places paid out. If you are only paying for the biggest, round and orange pumpkin it may keep the grower from brining a big orange one that is not exactly the perfect shape to be seen.. if they thought it may place it would be making the event. The more orange ones the better...

5/9/2016 2:51:56 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Thanks for the suggestions so far everyone..I know there are a few site organizers that are reading. The more input you put in here, the better it can be. Thank you to the site organizers..i know you want to make it the best you can...with each of you having different difficulties to deal with.

5/9/2016 7:24:46 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

and wizzy...i prefer non-molteled :P

5/9/2016 7:27:26 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

At Anamosa, the site coordinator appoints a couple of non-grower judges to pick the HD winner. At Pawnee City, each grower was allowed a vote, just can't vote for your own. I prefer letting the growers vote.

5/10/2016 8:13:40 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Doylestown has been letting every grower get a vote since our first weighoff in 2010.

5/10/2016 1:37:47 PM

Omaha, Ne.

Anamosa was really easy. each grower picks a pumpkin but not there own. no problems. Using the audience to judge is a mistake be cause they have a tendency to push for a local grower not the best pumpkin.

Or a hand full of judges that may just not like a grower. or what happen the year before one outgoing guy railroaded the other two to vote his way. because they was related.

one grower one vote.

Also i think bigger is better. not just small and round. I think we should give respect to the Atlantic giant. and not judge it on the basis of it looking like a perfect round field pumpkin. but as a beautiful looking Atlantic giant.

5/15/2016 12:30:50 AM

norway , maine

That seems like the best way

5/15/2016 9:21:12 AM

Omaha, Ne.

Whoops I meant to say Pawnee city . Not Anamosa didn't make it there last year

5/16/2016 11:54:27 AM

Anacortes, WA

Thinking a bit further on Pap's suggestion. If you want to consider attributes equally you could break a "ballot" into three categories or so. If you want to consider 5 of the best pumpkins.

Size - rate 1 through 5
Best color - rate 1 through 5
Best shape - Rate 1 through 5

Site would determine the voters.

Total the scores and any tie would go to the larger pumpkin.

5/17/2016 8:01:23 PM