World record pumpkin weighed at Wellington

Administrator | Oct 16, 2011 | Comments 13

Jim and Kelsey Bryson, from Ormstown, Quebec, weighed a world record whopper at the Wellington Pumpkinfest weigh-off Saturday.
Bryson won the weigh-off last year with the “mother” of this year’s winner at more than 1,404.40 pounds. This year, as the scale stopped at 1,818.5 fellow growers and friends cheered the victory.
A possible secret to his success? His giants are fed maple syrup!
“Bryson has already been invited to attend the Botanical Gardens in New York City this week and his would be featured with four other top pumpkins from the United States on the Regis and Kelly show,” notes Sue Vincent, who along with husband John, are responsible for the Wellington weigh-off event. John is president of the Prince Edward County Pumpkin Growers and is vice-president of the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, the governing body for giant pumpkin growers world-wide.
“At this point he has left the pumpkin with us here in Ontario to hopefully have it travel to the Royal Winter Fair in a few weeks to be featured there.”
Bryson’s pumpkin taped in at 435 inches so organizers expected it to be approximately 1,725 lbs.
Bryson was at this year’s event with his cousin Harley Sproule, who notes they grow together and have been coming to Wellington for the past four years as they also love the Pumpkinfest parade and festivities.
Wellington’s event was held despite torrential rain and biting wind – thanks to Alvin and Sheila Huffman, who volunteered their farm for the weigh off to proceed.
Bob Greer, son of event originator Bill Greer, thanked everybody for their patience as the weigh-off was delayed slightly because of the re-location.
“Welcome to the 15th annual weigh-off,” he said. “Things are not going exactly to plan but we hope you will enjoy. We have a nice crop of pumpkins here. We have to be patient with the weather. Mother Nature always wins.”
Also applauded at the event was a giant watermelon grown by Gladys Webb, who proudly announced she is 91-years-old.

Despite best planning, Mother Nature always wins and her torrential rain and biting wind forced the relocation of this year's Pumpkinfest Weigh-In. Alvin and Sheila Huffman kindly donated their farm for the day.

In his first year for growing melons, Bryan Mailey, of Uxbridge is thrilled his entry passed the 200-lb mark at 206.5 lbs. Having surpassed the 200-lb mark he's on his way to earning a Master Grower Award.