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Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada

It is with much regret that I need to inform the giant vegetable growing community of the decision by the Port Elgin Pumpkinfest Board of Directors to discontinue hosting the International Giant Vegetable Growers Seminar which has been held annually in Niagara Falls for the last 16 years. Many discussions and options were considered, but ultimately, the decision was made to request a partnership with the Giant Vegetable Growers of Ontario to allow us the opportunity to present the orange jacket at their annual Spring seminar. I am happy to report that the GVGO has agreed to this.

Therefore, Port Elgin Pumpkinfest will continue to present the orange jacket and large trophy, which has come to be known as Stewy, to the largest pumpkin grown internationally each year, (provided there is proof of weight on scales, as well as witness accounts).

We feel the orange jacket is a very special award and consider it an honour to be the guardians of such a prize. We will continue to fundraise (with seed auctions or otherwise) to be able to cover the costs associated with the orange jacket presentation and we look forward to your continued support of these fundraising endeavours.

Should the orange jacket winner be unable to attend the GVGO Spring seminar, they will be welcome to send a representative to accept on their behalf or a Port Elgin Pumpkinfest representative will accept and then courier the jacket after the formal presentation has been made.

If you wish to send any input or comments, please email [email protected].

Finally, on a personal note, I'd like to thank the loyal attendees of our Niagara seminar for their overwhelming support over our 16 year history and I hope that we will meet again someday. Have a happy holiday season and a prosperous 2014 growing season.

11/18/2013 12:10:51 PM

Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada

(oops sorry - I realized I should have formally signed the above post because not everyone will recognize my BP "handle")

Yours truly,
Sally Hunt, Coordinator, Port Elgin Pumpkinfest

11/18/2013 12:19:31 PM

Western ny

thank you for all that you have done

11/18/2013 1:06:45 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Thanks Sally for all your hard work through the years

11/18/2013 1:42:11 PM

bliss,n.y.- heart of Wyoming County

Sally-
I am going to miss the event!
Thank-you all for many years of enjoyable and educational meetings!
Bill p

11/18/2013 2:58:04 PM

Buffalo, New York

Sad to hear :(
Nice finally meeting you last March.

11/18/2013 4:50:06 PM

Sharon, MA

Sally I'm going to miss the International Convention at Niagara. Very educational. Sad to see it go.

11/18/2013 7:51:02 PM

Oswego,ny

wow, things wont be the same....thanks for all the great events in the past

11/18/2013 8:09:42 PM

Wi

Sally thanks for your efforts. It is certainly an experience I will never forget.

11/18/2013 8:26:41 PM

Parker, Co

Oh, i have great memories of niagara too! The snow, ice, sun and rainbows making such beauty! Leonardo slipping down the sidewalk with his no tread cowboy boots on. Wearing our towels from our room around our necks to keep warm on our walk. Visiting the mini botanical garden greenhouse that was just below the hotel. And visiting with the Dills. Hopefully someday it can happen again. All the best sally!

11/18/2013 9:49:31 PM

Rhode Island

ron and i attended many seminars at niagra. enjoyed each and every one of them. sad to see it go.
glad to see the cup and orange jacket will continue to be awarded each year.a great remembrance for the top growers in the world.
sally,phil and all ---- thank you for all the great times.
pap and ron wallace

11/19/2013 8:30:30 AM

Waquoit Mass

have some great memories from niagra .and that ride up with dick and the boys enough said lol

11/19/2013 9:14:21 AM

Cameron

It was a great event that will be sadly missed by many including myself. We have been at every event since the time it was held in Guelph & have met many new friends. Thanks Port Elgin & Pumpkinfest for all the memories.

Jane & Phil Hunt

11/19/2013 10:28:12 AM

Muddy Waters

I have great memories of the Guelph Seminar! 2000 & 2001 if my memory is correct.Thanks for awl your efforts!!

11/19/2013 6:29:09 PM

Team Munson

I remember the begining with Gus Saunders & the Ottawa St. Lawrence growers sitting in awe of all the great growers Al Eaton, Bob Marcellus, Barry Dejong, Lorraine Orr,... It was in Kempville sitting with my new friend Ron Wallace & telling each other how some day we would be up there with the champions.

We went from Kempville, Guelph, Ottawa, to Niagara we watched Gus hand the torch to Dave McCallum & Port Elgin all the way networking & making friends we would have for life time.

Many great memories along the way thank you & good luck.

Dave Stelts

11/20/2013 9:13:36 AM

many memories
just to name a few

tom privetera and mike frantz changed room number on me once

also lost my shirt in ovgpg room and drunk all there beer

11/20/2013 11:50:26 AM

Connecticut

The seminar will be missed by many this year, myself included. Always was a great time to be able to talk with growers from all over the world and exchange ideas.

11/20/2013 10:57:51 PM