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bliss,n.y.- heart of Wyoming County

A friend found this on youtube. This is me 44 years ago as a teenage pumkin grower. Guess the habit stuck.
Enjoy! Bill P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsrZMORC0u8

11/4/2009 9:07:49 AM

[email protected]

That is too cool. Did you win anything?

11/4/2009 12:32:40 PM

bliss,n.y.- heart of Wyoming County

Steve-
I got the $50 bucks..show prize.. plus they found out I had never been in NYC.. so the show extended my stay in NYC to 5 days( airfare plus hotel-the Old Americana-use of a limo) and gave my mom and I ( I had to have an adult with me being a minor)$500 in cash mad money. Back in 1965 that was a ton of cash in spending power.
Being a kid from a tiny town in upstate NY.. wow.. it was a super hoot..
Thats how I got my start in pumpkin growing..
Thanks for asking.. I look back very fondly on the opportunity...LOL Plus at 16.. It did help me to attract a new girlfriend at the time....

Best wishes
Bill p

11/4/2009 1:20:44 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Bill, thanks for sharing..No kidding about the $500 back in 65'...that was big money back then. Interesting history, do you still live on the same farm?

11/4/2009 2:02:48 PM

Massillon, Ohio

Ohhhhh boy! I remember that show!
And to think that pumpkin growers were getting the media hype way back then. Belated congratulations!!!!

11/4/2009 3:39:44 PM

Antigonish,Nova Scotia,Canada

Great stuff, very interesting. Nice seeing an old B/W TV show...brings back a lot of memories.
Thanks for sharing this!

Bill

11/4/2009 5:49:03 PM

Ohio

Nana, your to young to remember that show, who you foolin?!!

11/4/2009 5:57:12 PM

Ohio

Bill, thanks for sharing that, it sure was neat to watch, and then toknow the story that went behind it about you and your mother. I really enjoyed this thread Bill, thanks!

Brooks

11/4/2009 5:59:17 PM

Massillon, Ohio

That is totally cool!!!!!!!

11/4/2009 9:19:41 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Very, very...Kul!!! Peace, Wayne

11/4/2009 9:21:27 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Too Cool!!!!!

11/4/2009 9:50:13 PM

Akron,N.Y.

I like seeing those old videos,I was just born when you were on that show.
Also, I'd like to say Hi to everyone here (I'm kinda new) Bill and me are kinda neihbors,I live in Akron .My brother-in-law is a Leitten,know any of them?
Gene

11/4/2009 10:41:45 PM

Akron,N.Y.

Forgot to say they are from Warsaw

11/4/2009 10:42:39 PM

New York

Like everyone said, that was really cool. Thanks for sharing...that's good stuff!

By chance did you get an opportunity to talk with Andy Griffith?

11/5/2009 12:40:39 AM

Jericho Vermont

Very nice Bill. Now that I know the huge amount of money you made from the show I am going to have to up your VT club dues! LOL Thanks for sharing.

11/5/2009 6:22:32 AM

Leicester, NY

Bill,
That's great, thanks for sharing!

11/5/2009 6:25:12 AM

[email protected]

That was one of the neatest clips I have ever watched! Talk about connecting the old days with the new! Was William Warnock the next guest?

Bill, that made my day! Thanks for sharing.

11/5/2009 6:36:25 AM

ExtremeVegetables.com

This is definately one of the coolest threads I have ever read here.

11/5/2009 7:12:50 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Awesome Bill! That show brought back memories.

11/5/2009 7:41:07 AM

Roselle, IL [email protected]

That was cool Bill. I'm surprised she guessed "grows pumpkins" so quickly...

11/5/2009 9:05:27 AM

bliss,n.y.- heart of Wyoming County

Thanks all for the many kind words. I may not be a heavy hitter, but I have spent many years promoting growing.
Alan- That's a good question..

I had the opportunity to speak to the Sheriff of Mayberry for about an hour that night! What a great guy!
In fact.. just as they asked me to enter and sign in..I froze-- stage fright.. I was pushed out onto the stage by Andy Griffith and I shall forever remember what he said " Go get em boy!" He was also awesome to my mom. In fact after the broadcast, it was live then on the east coast, they all stayed around and spent time talking to us...
Hey maybe this coming year, ma nature will cooperate here in hilly wyoming County and I might get a super PB. but right now, I look outside my window and yuuuuch.. its snowing!!

All of your kind words illustrate what a great group of people AG growers are..I am may never get a jacket, but Iam very proud to be associated with the greatest group of people on this planet...Giant Vegetable Growers!

Youare all the best!

Thanks again for the kind words..
Ps- My father-in-law saw the clip and called me from Florida.. His wry comments were"That was a few pounds ago.." LOL...
Best wishes...
Bill P

11/5/2009 9:10:11 AM

bliss,n.y.- heart of Wyoming County

PS- I am not a great typist..lol

11/5/2009 9:11:26 AM

Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada

Bill - that is one of the neatest things! And to think it's been posted to the internet after all these years. How did your friend even know to look for it?

11/5/2009 10:41:02 AM

Wooley Swamp N.Y.

Bill very cool Karl

11/5/2009 11:16:05 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

That was great!

11/9/2009 6:04:50 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

S4S...might make a kul clip at da falls!!! Thanks Bill!!! Peace, Wayne

11/11/2009 1:29:49 AM

bliss,n.y.- heart of Wyoming County

Peace, Wayne-
I think it would be fun and an honor to have it shown at "da falls!"

11/16/2009 3:17:22 PM