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PacificNW

Is it true that there are plans for a $20,000 weigh-off in Oregon this summer? What is the furthest anyone has driven to take a 'kin to a weigh-off?

3/30/2009 5:05:29 PM

Cornelius, Oregon

The rumor wagon will be running wild on this one as 20K could just be the starting point. This thing could pull people from the midwest or even the east coast. Nothing is set in stone, but once it is I am sure there will be a post.

3/30/2009 5:47:34 PM

Pataskala,OH

Gee how would I get a pumpkin on a plane? The TSA would have some problems with that! lol

3/30/2009 6:58:12 PM

Elk Grove,Ca USA

Emery Transpaort into Mather Air Force Base, used for civilian Fed ex ect., In Sacramento, I'm sure of a few other places as well.

3/30/2009 7:18:06 PM

Woodburn, Indiana

I can see President Unibrow and his Ohio Valley crew tuning up their trucks for the trip right now, LOL.

3/30/2009 8:13:35 PM

Columbus,ohio

Lmao...kelly...Pumpkin convoy that runs from new england thru ohio and up into illinios all the way to oragn....100's of pick-up trucks long, tons upon tons of pumpkins.

3/30/2009 8:26:24 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Wow! $20,000 could draw people from a long ways off.

3/30/2009 8:35:52 PM

Falls City, NE

Oregan trail all over again LOL

3/30/2009 10:48:13 PM

Rhode Island

$20,000.00 draws a lot of interest.

i always dreamed of holding a united states / canadian weighoff championship that would bring the biggest and best competitors into play.

it takes sponsor monies, a lot of press,tv and exposure for the sponsors to get a return on this investment.
i wish them the best . it would be a great thing for the hobby

if the sngpg has an entry or two that we could compete with im sure we would support sending a couple of our best into competition.

which just may be the way to approach this type of competition. pumpkins/growers sponsored by their respective clubs at a large competition such as this. with out the individual clubs sponsorship most growers could not justify the cost to travel cross country.

hope to hear more on the subject. great news for the hobby

pap

3/31/2009 7:07:35 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Everyone stop in and visit me in Idaho on your way to Oregon.

3/31/2009 1:25:19 PM

Gold Hill, Oregon

makes me think of the old western movies with signs on the wagons that said "oregon or bust".

3/31/2009 3:54:49 PM

Cornelius, Oregon

Can you imagine all the heavy hitters bringing their largest fruit to the same weighoff? OMG
Before the weighhoff there is a 90% chance there will be a pumpkin parade that goes through the local town in which all the entries will be lined up in their trucks one behind the other. This thing could be really really fun. Can you say Helicopter Pumpkin Drop from a 1000 feet....

3/31/2009 4:44:57 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Stillwater, MN would be a nice central weighoff for northern growers...just a thought.

3/31/2009 4:47:42 PM

Brett, when you get to the RR tracks on 99E with your pumpkin, you should floor it. That'll help make room in the top ten for some other deserving grower.

3/31/2009 6:13:14 PM

Western NY

hey Cliff - google maps have the route to within an hour of your place from my direction! only a little over 2,600 miles each way for me, lol.

3/31/2009 7:00:31 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Oh now you know.....why The WiZ wantZ to move.....

WOW

3/31/2009 8:27:32 PM

Nothing like a HH driving to Oregon with a 1500# pumpkin and getting 10th place and a measly little check...hehe.

Stillwater, MN....hmmmm....now this is an interesting location. If you build it they will come....STAY TUNED!!!!

4/1/2009 10:07:42 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Anything this exciting must have been thought up by Ray Waterman or could easily be duplicated by him in New York. This would be much closer to the Easterners than going all the way to Oregon. Could be an East Coast-West Coast thing and maybe Canada too. But then we would be right back where we started.....multiple sites. Interesting idea about clubs sponsoring someone in their group to head west. Maybe one of the shipping companies like Fed-Ex could be sponsors in that they would haul the pumpkins free to Oregon. Seeds could be removed there so no hauling back. Just thinking............
Marv

4/1/2009 11:04:55 AM

Rhode Island

in the right hands the promotion of an event of this scope could be possible.
with the right tv show funding and recording the growers and their travels, sprinkle in a few big time sponsors ,or even let the growers come up with there own sponsors? ( to cover transportation, lodging etc, costs? ) and it could be done.
yep, but who wants to do all this work and research?

4/1/2009 12:12:47 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Andy, all,

I have lots of room for tents on my property.

j/k, for pumpkin growers, we'd clear off the couch for ya.

4/1/2009 3:32:27 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

I really like the idea of one central location. It would be ideal.

But most of us are not professional growers bringing in $200K a year from our pumpkin pursuits. Even if I could grow a big one, I'd have a hard time taking a week off to go play when there are bills to be paid at home.

Thus, a simultaneous event, held at exactly the same hour in Oregon and New York. Satellite hookup... Television in each site of course, and you could work it like, top five from each coast match up against each other. Weigh one from the west, then weigh one from the east. Cheerleaders jumping around yelling "We got spirit, yes we DO! We've got spirit, how about you?", then cut to the other coast with cheering fans ready to see the next pumpkin weighed.

So you see, these are head-to-head matchups. Daletas vs. Stelts, for example. Hester vs. Wallace. Holland vs. Eaton, Van Kooten vs. ... you get the idea. Winner scores one point for his "side". This creates a more "television worthy" event... people will continue to watch more than just one battle, and fill up the hour.

4/1/2009 4:27:59 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Am I right folks, or am I right?

4/1/2009 4:30:47 PM

Claysburg , PA

Hey Cliff who gets Quinn Werner .........

4/1/2009 4:57:34 PM

ipswich, ma usa

Lets just have the jumping cheerleaders screw the pumpkins!!

John (5150)

4/1/2009 5:09:15 PM

Pembroke, New Hampshire

If all the big time growers head west, I might have a chance at Topsfield....I like this idea!

4/1/2009 5:35:28 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

I knew I would leave someone out! Not intending to make a comprehensive list, of course. I agree, whoever draws Quinn will probably be in for a long day.

I think the natural thing would be to run the lightest expected pumpkin first, and the heaviest expectation last. But one team might reverse it, running their heaviest first, and then bank on winning the "one in the middle". OK, I'm thinking too much.

It's like a baseball team, you have to set your lineup before the competition starts.

4/1/2009 5:59:46 PM

Mulino, Oregon

The PGVG, and Bauman Farms welcome any growers that want to come out to our event this Fall. Aside from at least $20,000 in prize money we will also be dropping a giant pumpkin from a helicopter (so be careful where you park!)

Cliff , you won't need to take off all week. You could leave Friday after work and make it easy for Saturday morning!(it's only a 7 hour drive) Maybe you could carpool with the Gadberrys.

4/1/2009 6:02:14 PM

ordinary,VA

I will make the trip what does 67th place pay?

4/1/2009 6:15:05 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Yes, and what does 68th place pay? Just kidding, actually, if I ever grow a 1000 pounder, I've always wanted to take it to Half Moon Bay. But if everyone goes to Oregon, it would be great to meet people.

4/1/2009 6:39:39 PM

Okla

I had to read 5150s reply several times before I got the actual meaning. I thought at first,now that is sick.

4/1/2009 8:08:24 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Dibs on Quinn!

4/1/2009 9:19:15 PM

Johnstown, Ohio

A measly 36 1/2 hour drive for me...sounds like a long weekend! (lol). Seriously though, when is this weigh-off to occur?

4/1/2009 10:44:38 PM

Johnstown, Ohio

...and with that big of an event, you need multiple carvers! (lol) This could be a huge event for the giant pumpkin community, bringing great international exposure!

4/1/2009 10:51:17 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Dibs on Gus too. We'll sub him out to carve all those beauties.

4/1/2009 10:52:50 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

LOL Gus. We posted simultaneously.

4/1/2009 10:53:51 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Yo Jim....a helicopter....you gotta be kiddin me dude...I witnessed last years double pumpkin drop at Canby...for me that was nerve racking enough....lol looking up at the pumpkin after it was hoisted and the clouds moving a thought that crane operator waZ gonna drop it on me.....lol but he placed it perfectly in the car.....
We are going to try in at JaredZ.....I hope but from a helicopter......Whoa....worth the price of admission in itZself.....

4/2/2009 8:54:57 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

What happens to a helicopter when it releases that much weight? Wow.

4/2/2009 12:46:18 PM

Helicopters are equipped with cable releases, so you don't have to stand directly under the pumpkin yanking on the rope in the hopes of releasing the slip not...then that slight hesitation (insert Wyle E. Coyote sound track here) as you try and determine if the fruit is moving or not.

4/2/2009 12:46:45 PM

Dallas, Oregon

Destined to be a U-Tube classic. Welcome to The Greatest Pumpkin Show on Earth! Saturday, October 3. Bauman Farms in Gervais, Oregon.

4/2/2009 7:42:14 PM

I just flashed on a "Smokey and the Bandit" senario across I-94 and I-90,,,are you up for it Don?

30 hr drive according to google maps,,,I think we can whittle that down ;-)

4/2/2009 8:11:43 PM

Mulino, Oregon

Dan, the parties on us if you come out. Of course if you win then you'll have to buy! lol

4/2/2009 8:17:04 PM

Cool !

4/2/2009 9:10:55 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Now WhatZ that date again.....??..... Hmmmmmm

Up for another ROAD TRIP BiZ....you juZt got back......lol

4/2/2009 9:20:46 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

If anyone is passing this way on the way, drop a note ahead of time and I'd be glad to see someone stop... if my season's done by then. Unless I manage the secret brew and go 20% heavy to boot, I wouldn't have enough tonnage to dare that kind of trip.

4/2/2009 11:38:14 PM

Gold Hill, Oregon

it would be great if we could get david letterman to do the east coast and jay leno to do the west coast.

4/4/2009 3:14:47 AM