From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Rhode Island

THIS MAY SOUND LIKE A BOLD QUESTION BUT IT REALLY IS NOT.I AM VERY CURIOUS JUST WHAT ALL YOU FOLKS THAT POST ARE STRIVING TO ATTAIN?
DO YOU WANT TO SOMEDAY BE A TOP GROWER IN THE HOBBY? OR ARE YOU CONTENT JUST TO GROW A PUMPKIN? THERES A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW YOU APPROACH EITHER.

FOR RON AND I THE CHOICES WERE VERY SIMPLE.WHEN WE STARTED OUT MANY YEARS AGO WE WERE CONTENT AND HAPPY TO GET ONE TO A WEIGH-OFF.THEN RUN AND HIDE WHEN THE WEIGHT IS ANNOUNCED OR BETTER YET? GO TO THE TOILET -LOL. WINNING WAS FOR SOMEONE ELSE. WE DID NOT EVEN THINK IT POSSIBLE.

AFTER A FEW YEARS WE GOT THE IDEA THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH THE BIG GUNS IF ONLY WE HAD BETTER LUCK. TURNS OUT THAT LUCKS GOT VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH IT. ITS ALL ABOUT EDCUATION, RESEARCH,NETWORKING AND YOUR ABILITY TO TAKE A BEATING AND KEEP COMING BACK.
LIKE ROCKY SAID "ITS NOT HOW HARD YOU CAN PUNCH ITS HOW HARD YOU CAN TAKE A PUNCH" AND WE TOOK OUR SHARE OF PUNCHES OVER THE YEARS THATS FOR DARN SURE.

TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT IT TOOK RON AND I MANY YEARS, MORE SO THAN PROBABLY A LOT OF OTHER GROWERS, TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL AND KNOWN IN THE HOBBY. IT DID NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT AND CERTAINLY NOT BY ACCIDENT.

I CANT BEGIN TO TELL YOU THE HOURS PUT FORTH EACH AND EVERY WINTER IN RESEARCH ALONE. THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR PROBABLY MOST OF THE TOP GROWERS IN THE WORLD TODAY.HECK WHILE SOME OF US ARE READING THE MESSAGE BOARDS THEY ARE STILL OUT IN THE PATCH UNTIL ITS TO DARK TO SEE ANY LONGER.

SO? WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL IN THIS HOBBY? TO BE IN THE FRONT ROW SOMEDAY? OR ARE YOU CONTENT JUST TO BE THERE?
ME? WELL IF YOU COULD HAVE EXPERIENCED BEING A PART OF RONS 1,502 WR AND MY 1,450 SECOND IN THE WORLD DURING THE 2006 SEASON? YOU WOULD KNOW THE ANSWER.

MY BEST TO EVERYONE. NO MATTER WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE.

PAP

6/25/2009 8:28:01 PM

Dresden, Ohio

My goal is to grow a 1,000 pound pumpkin and keep learning.
-Jeremy

6/25/2009 8:32:46 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Going for the ride....
Bucket of bragging rights....
That big one holding the dirt down and me going 'damn I grew that'....
The little kid parked next to that HUGE thing and their eyes like saucers....
Yes it's real....
I've learned more about organic and soil chemistry, microbes, bugs, chemicals and control, than I did in 40 some years of gardening, in my first winter after being bit that bad.
I may be getting older but I refuse to grow up! Growing big pumpkins lets me do that just fine :)

6/25/2009 9:02:34 PM

Indiana

1 ton and all else fails

6/25/2009 9:06:01 PM

Oklahoma State Record Holder

My goal a least this year is a State Record, And next year to break that one.

6/25/2009 9:08:27 PM

Adams County

750lb greenie.or better

6/25/2009 9:21:26 PM

NB Canada

to impress the heck out of my kids :)

6/25/2009 9:22:22 PM

Sophia WV

I enjoy growing and I want to be the best i can be at this sport.!I enjoy all the good people i have met doing it too.

6/25/2009 9:36:03 PM

Colorado

My goal this year is to set a new personal best win a GPC weigh-off. Too many second place ribbons on my wall!

6/25/2009 9:38:46 PM

norway , maine

im a newbie and my goal for this year is 300lbs. right now im not lookin past that, just trying to learn and read all i can... and to have a good time in the process.

6/25/2009 9:51:24 PM

Jefferson Me

To beat the state record.Fell one pound short last year.To be honest, as long as I know I put all of my knowledge into these plants espcially with the crap weather we've had and as long as I work as hard as I possiblely can we'll see where the chips fall.Good louck to all in the northeast cause the weather has been unbearable.

6/25/2009 10:11:15 PM

Maine

This is only my second year growing and still have alot to learn before I can compete with the heavy hitters.

What I love about this hobby is I am competing against myself every year. All I want to do is beat my PB. That is my ultimate goal.

6/25/2009 10:28:56 PM

South East

Grow the unthinkable and be the best we can be and try to improve with each plant we grow. And no matter how many people say, it cant be done, just grow for it. And show em it can.

6/25/2009 10:42:21 PM

Littleton, Colo

1100......no splitz...

6/25/2009 10:58:35 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

Last year I reached one goal of making the top 10 at Anamosa Pumpkinfest. This year's goal is to get a spot on the pumpkinfest parade float (top 4). My main goal is to see a world record weighed at Anamosa, whether it is mine or one of our other regular competitors.

6/25/2009 10:59:37 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Pat, you can have the record this fall until I get to the scale :)

Pete, come down here, we're season ender, you might have a better chance unless I get that one tonner.

Everyone else, best of luck

6/25/2009 11:24:15 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

My goal is to grow a nice big orange pumpkin....breaking the 1000 lb. barrier again would be nice. Make that two nice big orange pumpkins.

6/25/2009 11:43:16 PM

Whidbey Island

a pb.

6/25/2009 11:44:07 PM

Eugene,OR

I'd like to be in the top 5 at Elk Grove...but that is going to take 1300+ lbs.

6/25/2009 11:56:05 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

To have fun growing every season..If I win a few prizes and make a few bucks thats even better.

6/26/2009 12:00:20 AM

Breslau, Ontario, Canada

Well,
I haven't put this much time and effort and amount of money into something to just be OK at it. If all I wanted was a big pumpkin then I would just throw some seeds into the dirt and hope for the best....that's not what this is about.
When I go to the patch and I see something I don't "like"
It really pisses me off
My goal;
To be one of the best!

6/26/2009 12:05:47 AM

Plymouth, Connecticut

Great post, Pap. As second year growers, we just want to learn more and obtain a pb. As each season passes, we plan to invest more time (research) and $$$ in equipment such as soil heating cables, overhead misters, tea brewers, etc., to help achieve that goal. You have to walk before you can run! Besides, Matt's S.R. 1353 is 1100 lbs. more than our first "giant" last year. That's a LONG way to go when you're still walking!
Good luck to everyone this season, and God bless.
-Dan

6/26/2009 12:16:04 AM

[email protected]

A new personal best.

6/26/2009 12:22:13 AM

Buffalo, New York

with the bad things happening over the last few days....my new goal is just to have something to get to the weighoff :)

6/26/2009 1:03:46 AM

Fresno, CA

This might sound lame to you big-timers out there but I will be happy if I hit 200 pounds this year given my first attempt last year only resulted in a 75 pound pumpkin. But I'm dreaming bigger. I want to get it as big as my current small lawn lot will allow for this year and then I'll reconsider in the offseason when I can plan for a new start with a proven seed line. This year I just have store bought seeds from Lowe's garden center, because I didn't know of all the great resources out there (including this website). I culled a 22 pounder today off a secondary vine, so I'm definitely doing better than last year so far.

6/26/2009 2:13:19 AM

Marshfield, Ma, USA

Short term goal is to finish in the top ten at Topsfield.

Long term is to someday be the winner.

6/26/2009 5:38:03 AM

Long Island,New York

world domination

6/26/2009 6:12:41 AM

Cochecton, NY

This is my second year doing this. I set a goal last year and beat it (not by alot, but beat it). I have set a goal again this year and plan on beating it again. One thing I will say is that no matter if I am competing against myself or the world, I have the same amount of heart into it either way. This is a hobby that requires dedication.
If I can win a weigh off or break a record, so be it. Stillgoing to enjoy it anyway!

6/26/2009 6:55:39 AM

[email protected]

World peace

6/26/2009 7:04:06 AM

Ohio

This might sound selfish, but I want to be like the guy listed below, one of the best and most caring guys I know,,, if we all could follow in his foot steps I know the world would be a better place to grow pumpkins, and all of us would have personals bests for years to come.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0

6/26/2009 7:09:56 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Long Term goal is to "Get A Coat"....Consistently every year to have a chance to Grow a 1200+ in Colorado......

I still have a goal to move to Oregon to a region that I can grow a new World Record....Wont stop till I get there either.....I really enjoy growing pumpkinZ......THis yearZ goal....Take first at the JaredZ weigh off....set a new state record.......! See yaH BiZ.....

6/26/2009 8:39:18 AM

Ontario

This is my learning year and whatever I get out of the patch I will be happy with, but so far...after seeing what is possible......I think I would like to be a heavy hitter some day and have my seeds in demand and grown all over the world. Ultimately setting a world record would be my long term goal...it may or may not happen.....and I realize it will take many years continually improving, but I have to believe it could happen!!!!

6/26/2009 8:45:48 AM

[email protected]

OK breaking the NYS record is gonna be pretty tough to do, but, heck gotta try. Getting that orange jacket would be the best. But I would settle for either a) breaking my new personal best last year of 938.5, or b) 1000 pound mark this year.

6/26/2009 8:48:04 AM

Salisbury, MA.

A personal best is what I always hope to grow, the true contest is always with yourself.

6/26/2009 9:32:09 AM

Southeast

Win the Durham Fair for the second time.

6/26/2009 10:14:35 AM

Sequim, WA

Eventually, get my name in the Guiness book of world records. But there's lots of ways to do that and I have an idea that should work, but I don't want to share it with this group! Someone has to set the first one, and others can come along and break it. This year, grow one bigger than any I've grown in the past, hopefully over 1000 lbs. That used to be the pie in the sky goal that the Zehr's first achieved along with Bill Greer, now it's simply a benchmark. But it's still a goal to shoot for, and one that seems far more realistic than it was once considered to be. I remember my second season growing I wanted to grow one that outweighed me. I didn't diet enough. Remember, the bigger they are, the harder they are to move around.

6/26/2009 10:52:40 AM

Columbus,ohio

A 600lber be awesome.....My goal right now is 800lbs

6/26/2009 10:53:48 AM

to stay out of the Topsfield kiddie pen.

6/26/2009 11:33:05 AM

Gettysburg, PA

Being this is my first year, a PB won't be hard! LOL

I'd like to get one good pumpkin to make it to the fall to carve up for a huge jack-o-lantern. If I can get one to set and keep the deer, squirrels, and groundhogs away I'll put a lot more effort into it next year. Starting with plot prep this fall.

charlie

6/26/2009 11:46:31 AM

[email protected]

My ultimate goal, Is to be shot by a jealous husband when I'm 102 years old, and winning the world championship as a pumpkingrower when I'm 101, Then life will have been EXCELLENT

6/26/2009 11:51:34 AM

[email protected]

This year 400"+

6/26/2009 12:08:27 PM

Knopp, Germany

to have fun.

6/26/2009 12:18:33 PM

Minnesota

I don't have a girl, as soon as I can grow one as big as, the story with giant pumpkin pulled by horses, I'm gonna go out and get me a girl. (kidding)

6/26/2009 1:17:20 PM

Preston CT

To grow a pumpkin that has decent size and good genes. Then to have growers that want to plant seeds from that pumpkin. And, ofcourse, to always be in the top ten of CT Growers!

6/26/2009 2:03:21 PM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

Dang Brooks! You RickRolled me! I'd like to hit 1200 lbs this year and hopefully someday get a jacket (you know what I'm talkin' about).

6/26/2009 2:39:44 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Wiz, you coming down here with one?

My other goal is to have a big and successful weighoff; worthy of the GPC and... fill that prize bucket.

I do have one set and it made it onto 3rd day, so I can get on with growing, now! Let's ride the ride, to Oct 17th or bust.

6/26/2009 2:40:05 PM

Germany

Hi pap

I wanna have the biggest pumpkin ever grown, but i think
not this year.

my goal for this year is 1000 lbs

682 is personal best.

6/26/2009 2:40:54 PM

Belgium Europe

1690

6/26/2009 5:14:36 PM

Upstate S.C.

I don't wanna sound in anyway disrepecteful to all the great growers before HOWEVER, my goal is to grow the biggest pumpkin in the world SEVERAL TIMES, I would like to go down as one of the best Giant Pumpkin gowers ever.

6/26/2009 5:54:32 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

Skip buddy...I hear ya! LOL! PB works for me!

6/26/2009 8:29:53 PM

Litchfield N. H. 03052

I have two goals, a new personal best, and to finally win Topsfield!

6/26/2009 9:59:49 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

get in line

6/26/2009 10:05:21 PM

Ham Lake, Minnesota

It would seem logical to say that everyone's ULTIMATE goal is to grow the largest pumpkin in the world, right? Beside that notion, it is great to hear that many are in it for the fun alone, or just growing to put a smile on a kids face.

6/27/2009 12:07:46 AM

Alaska

World Record cabbage, watermelon, long gourd, cucumber and PUMPKIN of course. A mans gotta dream, right?

6/27/2009 1:00:26 AM

Gold Hill, Oregon

a lot of learning going on this year so anything over 388lb. would be great. i have learned to start my backups when i start my wannabees. i lost 2 weeks starting backups. lol.

6/27/2009 7:03:46 AM

Rhode Island

thanks everyone for your replies.i have but one goal for this season. no its not a world record because the odds of that happening are long.(ill take it though should it happen)
my goal is to get into the 1,500 pound club and hopefully this will be heavy enough to win our sngpg weigh-off in the process.

6/27/2009 7:23:40 AM

Gold Hill, Oregon

i would be happy with anything over 388lb.

6/29/2009 1:55:05 AM

Johnston, R.I.

Win the Howard Dill award at Topsfield

7/1/2009 12:54:19 PM