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Deer Park, WI

A few comments on what transpired in Stillwater yesterday- Foremost, I would like to thank the crew of SCGA members who tirelessly schlepped 50+ pumpkins on and off the scale yesterday in almost 80 degree heat: Jim Courson, Pete Midthun, Mitch Krause, Justin Arbach, Alex Bogie, Ray Fitzsimmons. I know there are more, sorry if I missed your name. To Casey Neuville for admin support and suspense management. To Don Young for representing as a GPC official. To Matt Marose, who called me up 6 years ago and planted the idea of creating a weighoff in Stillwater. Last but certainly not least, to John Branch and Tom Englund for all the behind-the-scenes coordination of activities.

As Dan Bowles commented in Chris's "congrats post", the Stillwater site is the most scenic location for a weighoff in the USA. Located literally on the shores of the beautiful St. Croix river, a National Scenic Riverway currently in peak fall color, the Stillwater weighoff has grown to become a centerpiece of the "Stillwater Harvest Fest", an event drawing in excess of 5000 people. Put our event on your "bucket list", I guarantee you won't regret it.

As President of the SCGA and emcee of the Stillwater Harvest Fest, it was an honor and a privilege to award my friend Chris Stevens the highest achievement of our sport. A once in a lifetime experience that will not be soon forgotten.

I recall standing in Chris's garage, 3rd week in April, myself, Hopkins, & Stevens had just sunk our seeds into oatmeal containers. Talking strategy for the upcoming season. Excitement and anticipation for the upcoming growing season. Little did we know just how exciting it would become.

The 1810.5 Stevens sandbagged us all.

10/10/2010 7:08:00 PM

Granite Bay-California

A big congrats to Chris Stevens, but the year ain't over yet.

10/10/2010 7:16:43 PM

South Dakota

Congrats Chris!! Great guy-well deserved! Thank you to all who organized the Stillwater weigh-off. Wow!! What a great weigh-off! There were so many people. Beautiful weather and scenery! My kids had a great time! You guys know how to put on a show! Congrats to all who weighed! It was great seeing Don Young again! All the MN,Iowa and Wisconsin growers are great people! Top notch weigh-off! Thank you! Kevin

10/10/2010 9:59:44 PM

great weighoff alot of good guys working hard like well oiled machine i was impressed great time there now i gotta just get a pumpkin up there if weather is better

10/10/2010 10:13:33 PM

Rochester, MN

Congrats to Chris and to Joe for a great time! The difference from last year when I was there (40 degrees and snow and rain, 28 degrees when I arrived...lots of pumpkinscles!) to this year...80+ degrees...was awesome!!!
I've been to a lot of weighoffs, but now I can say I was at a WR weighoff and it feels great!
Also want to thank all the folks involved..great job!!!

10/10/2010 11:15:30 PM

Ohio

Great job Chris!, and to think he only wanted to grow pumpkins for his little girl(s) years ago and Im sure he wasnt even thinking about growing World records pumpkins at all, because he wanted to grow a 183 Bosworth seed (Cinderella x 748 Pukos),, Baahaaaa!!

I bet he looks back now and says,,, ''what a waste of time and patch space that was,I could have grown my girls some real monster pumpkins off alot better seed instead!'' lmao!
That same year I think he was just growing for fun, I was the one that ended up taking the technical advice off him on how I could grow my pumpkins bigger!!,,Ha!! and have continued ever since to bug him for more advice on how to grow my pumpkins bigger and for his seeds to grow(his seed and Mr.Hopkins who are best growing buddies). It sure didnt take him long to master how to grow these pumpkins HUGE, (1 growing season, way back when), who was definitely a natural right out of the gate.

I know this doesnt happen much here on bp.com,, but,,,''Always remember, the newer growers you brush off now to give some advice to when asked and also give seeds to , might just end up somewhere down the road being that grower who ends up growing a World Record one year, that you now would love to get advice from and maybe even a seed or three later'',,,lol

And awesome job to you also Joe, you really picked up the weight this year by a long shot, you have had not so good luck over the years and its really good to see you back on track and finally get a year that you could finally get out of that slump and grow big again this year.

Congrats to your entire club and to everyone who weigh in at Stillwater!.

Boz

10/11/2010 5:13:54 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Kudo's to the Boz for sharing this story!!! This is what makes this site what it is!!! Congrat's to Chris & Brooks!!! Peace, Wayne

10/12/2010 4:26:08 AM