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bliss,n.y.- heart of Wyoming County

This year one of my former students asked for pumpkin to put in his place of work, A Valu Home Store in Warsaw. It taped about 580lbs. His girlfriend painted a great "smiley face" on the front and they are displaying it by the front door.
He asked me to check it out and as we stood there talking, it was great to watch dads and moms with their little guys and gals.
The sparkle in their eyes and amazement that a pumpkin could grow to that size awed them. I realize this specimen was not a heavy hitter,.....but I think it was as satisfying or maybe more to watch the kids as it was to grow it.
Besides good friends made in growing.. this really tops my list of why to grow them big!
Happy halloween all!
BP

10/29/2008 10:15:09 AM

[email protected]

Kids are kings.

10/29/2008 10:59:47 AM

Coventry R.I.

Love to see kid,s faces,,, Brought mine to kids school,,all the kids wanted to no if it was real,,,

10/29/2008 11:17:30 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Loaded the pumpkin on the truck and did a tour of six or seven schools...over a thousand kids climbed all over her...now getting ready to carve it...The kids were great...the thank you pictures unbelievable...smiles all over the place!

10/29/2008 11:22:21 AM

Knopp, Germany

super, that is the real reason for growing these giants.

and Bill, i think you are a HH, and I bet I can find a million kids that think that also.

10/29/2008 11:27:24 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

In August, neighbor with two year old made patch visit. I had to carry the 2 year old as mom wasn't that big and it was a bit treacherous to get in there at the time. Set the little girl down next to my 425 (about 300# at the time)... the look on her face was priceless... Definitely made it worth growing! Bill, you hit it right on the head, it may not get you an orange jacket but it can sure add to a lot of kids' lives... and a GREAT reason why we grow. It's a HH if someone else thinks so!

10/29/2008 12:11:38 PM

Clarence, NY

A high-five to you and all that experience the same feeling from kids of all ages!

10/29/2008 1:29:01 PM

Anacortes, WA

The wife decorated the patch and back yard. Had 4 classes of kindergarteners visit (about 90 kids). They got a short lesson in giant pumpkin growing, took photos with the big ones, made apple cider, read a story, and all got to take a small pumpkin home with them. It was a great day.

10/29/2008 2:13:11 PM

Taylorsville, California

The joy these giants bring out in people is quite amazing. Besides the obvious joy our children get from our pumpkins, I am amazed by the people who get a smile on their face when they see a giant pumpkin. People I had never seen smile (and thought I never would) had big fat grins on their faces and joy and happiness in their eyes. Another amazing benifit to growing AGs!

10/29/2008 3:08:25 PM

Minnesota

I grew mine at a community garden my pb 237. Everyone there told me they can't believe how big it is getting and when ever they come to there garden they go and have a look at my big pumpkin. Neighbors also said they had heard of it and came to see it.

10/29/2008 3:45:42 PM

Midway, UT

I have my pumpkin on the driveway. Went to a festival and stopped by a Boy scout booth that was selling cookies. The scoutmaster started talking with me and said, "You should see that pumpkin that is here in Arvada on the guys driveway." I had to laugh when I told him that I knew about it and it was mine. It is fun seeing whole families get out of their cars, gather around the pumpkin and take family pictures together.

10/29/2008 5:16:25 PM

Roselle, IL [email protected]

We also had the local school kids stop by. The kindergartner's and their fourth grade buddies. It has been an annual field trip for about eight years now. Photo shoot and patch tour. They go back to school and draw pictures and write thank you notes... around 200 drawings and notes. They are priceless

10/29/2008 5:45:40 PM

SE Minnesota

I had a party to share the experience. Forgot to mention to the dad's about the lifting part. I put my 875.5 on display at a local apple orchard and now she is at the Cub Foods grand opening in St. Paul, MN. Sounds like lots and lots of pictures being taken, makes me smile every time I think about it

10/29/2008 8:53:27 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Our smallest one is doing time at the Governor's mansion in Columbus as the Halloween Trick-or-Treat display. It was picked by Jeanette Paras at Chillicothe to be decorated as a mad scientist complete with visual effects. Hope to get some pics this weekend.

10/29/2008 9:45:19 PM

Minnesota

I have a idea for next year. The news stations here in Mn when doing the weather they walk outside and give it from there. This time of year they have halloween/thanksgiving set up in the background, along with pumpkins, I think a giant pumpkin would look nice there next year.

10/29/2008 10:34:34 PM

Hingham MA

I have mine in my front yard, which is across the street from the neighborhood bus stop - the kids just love it. But the best was when I got a note from a family who just moved in down the street with two boys, around 8 and 10. Not easy to start up with new friends and a new school. But thanks to the pumpkin they are convinced they live in the coolest neighborhood in town. They'll definitely be getting seeds this year!

10/29/2008 11:12:20 PM

Taber, Alberta

We had 4 classes from our kids' school this week. We had our pumpkins in front of the garage and covered them with blankets. The kindergarten kids had no idea why they were walking to our house. We had the 'student of the day' pull the blanket off my sons 400 pounder and they went wild. I gave each student a picture with the pumpkins. The thank you cards they sent are much more precious than any weigh-off trophy.

I can't wait for Friday!

10/29/2008 11:55:33 PM

Rhode Island

ALL THESE PUMPKIN TOURS AND DISPLAYS NOT ONLY CONTINUE TO AMAZE ADULTS AND CHILDREN ALIKE? BUT ALSO HAS HELPED "GROW THE HOBBY"TO WHERE IT IS TODAY. JUST LOOK AT THE NEW MEMBERS TO POST HERE ON BP THIS PAST YEAR.

MOST OF US GOT OUR INITIAL INTEREST IN GROWING DUE TO THESE
"CLOSE INCOUNTERS OF A ORANGE KIND"
GOOD JOB BY ALL.

WEIGHING A BIG PUMPKIN IS OK FOR COMPETITION BUT THEY ALL LOOK BIG IN THE BACK OF A TRUCK OR TRAILER.

PAP

10/30/2008 6:40:41 AM

bliss,n.y.- heart of Wyoming County

Thanks Pap!
Awesome point!

10/30/2008 11:39:54 AM

churchville, ny

We have 6 giants (largest is my pb of 1119 lb.)that my wife spends 5 hours each carving. We have been doing this for 20 years and were featured on rnews.com on 10/30 as "In Chili It's the great pumpkin". For us it is all about the smiles and the tradition!

10/31/2008 10:38:06 PM