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Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA

Greetings to all Giant Pumpkin growers in the Mid-Atlantic states! My name is Karl Gercens and I'm pleased to announce that there is a NEW WEIGH OFF which will be held in southeastern Pennsylvania on Saturday October 11, 2008. This new event will be held at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. As one of the organizers of this event, I want to make sure that we have an extraordinary turn-out of exhibitors so that's why we're prepared to DOUBLE the pay-out that is offered at the other weigh-off here in Pennsylvania. Longwood Gardens will be publishing the details of this event shortly on our website. If you would like to have more information feel free to contact me on this board. I look forward to seeing you at our event this October!

Karl

5/18/2008 1:11:08 PM

Karl,

What is the web site called ??? i think it is great that there will be a new weigh-off in PA!!!

Happy pumpkin Growing

Mmrtin

5/18/2008 8:14:42 PM

Saegertown Pa.

Karl
Will it be a GPC event ?

5/18/2008 8:35:30 PM

I looked at the GPC site and it said it will be a gpc event!!

5/18/2008 8:44:43 PM

Western NY

http://greatpumpkincommonwealth.com/showsite.php?site=02-05

yes, they will be a GPC site. one of the select few new sites to join this year.

5/18/2008 8:44:43 PM

Honesdale, Pennsylvania

I think its great to have another weigh off too, but I can tell you it's not all about the money. We drive 4 hours every year to Altoona and the last thing on our mind is how much the prize money is. Each year you pretty much are competing against yourself for either a new personal best or some other personal gratification. I personally love the whole weigh off atomosphere. If you started only taking pumpkins to be weighed for the money it would be a pretty slim lineup of contenders. Only my 2 cents.

5/18/2008 8:46:01 PM

[email protected]

Karl,

Welcome to the fine world of Giant Pumpkins GPC style. I am certain that a superior horticulture institution such as Longwood Gardens will make us all proud.

Let any of the GPC Steering Committee members know if you have needs. We're here to help.

http://www.longwoodgardens.org/


Understand that while giant prizes aren't the sole motivator they sure don't hurt. Most growers look forward to the camaraderie & fellowship more than anything. But after a grueling growing season there's nothing wrong with just reward for the effort.

Kudos to the weigh-offs that can recognize the top growers effort! Another load of soil amendments or a fine dinner with the family is a nice bonus for the top competitors.

5/18/2008 10:45:19 PM

The Garden State

Great news!!! The local pumpkions show (10 minutes from my house) is not having a weigh off this year so guess where this South Jersey grower is headed....Longwood Gardens!!!!
Hopefully the Lord blesses me with a huge one this year.

5/19/2008 12:29:14 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Karl, thank you so much. I will be there with a large orange masterpiece! Jim
[email protected]

5/20/2008 10:08:26 PM

Flowery Branch, Georgia

I have a question, how far is it from your new
weigh off site to Altoona?

A pie can be sliced a limited number of times.

Bob Attaway

5/21/2008 7:09:53 PM

Western NY

They're about 200 miles apart.

I checked with Larry before proposing the site to the GPC committee, and he was supportive, so they were allowed in.

5/21/2008 8:19:23 PM

It's good to know that the giant pumpkin idea I instilled into Longwood Gardens two years ago is continuing to make progress.

5/22/2008 4:58:52 PM

Flowery Branch, Georgia

Andy Wolf:

Thanks for the clarification.

Bob Attaway

5/22/2008 6:23:17 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

I am not certain that Larry supported a weighoff at Longwood Gardens but if he did I don't think he anticipated that their first thing out of the box would be doubling the prize money Altoona was offering. The PGPGA is a club and as such has limited finances. No deep pockets here in Altoona AKA "Poverty City", its CB handle. We will see how it goes. Altoona had around 100 pumpkins last year and it took awhile to weigh them. Maybe this year it will take only a few minutes...............who knows. We will just have to wait and see the outcome of it all. I was one of the people who started the weighoff here and I would hate to see it go by way of all the buggy whip companies. Quite a few of the good PA growers have been coming to Altoona though we lose those from the western portion of the state to Ohio and now some to New York as well. With the cost of gasoline going up there may be even fewer people transporting their pumpkins to weighoffs. For those interested, the PGPA members will be here for the annual weighoff in Altoona and we welcome all comers. The Longwood Gardens Weighoff will be a week after ours.

Marv Meisner in Altoona

5/25/2008 6:23:34 PM