Giant pumpkin weigh-off this Saturday

WORLAND – This Saturday, Worland will be having their seventh annual Wyoming State Championship Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off. What differs this year, however, is that this year’s competition is sanctioned by the state, making the event the only verified event in Wyoming.

The competition is Saturday at 1 p.m., at the Worland Big Horn Co-op, located at 400 W Big Horn Ave. Those interested in competing can show up that morning from anytime between 8 a.m. and noon to register, according to organizer Jay Richard.

Participants will be coming from all over the state in order to compete in the championship and to show off their colossal pumpkins. The first place winner with receive $600 along with $300 for second place, $100 for third place, $75 for fourth place, $50 for fifth place and $25 for sixth place. People’s Choice will also be granted $50.

Along with the cash prizes, other awards include plenty of door prizes, also ribbons and plaques. The Howard Dill award will be granted to the prettiest pumpkin. Howard Dill was considered a giant among giant pumpkin growers, aspiring plenty of people to start growing their own. Today, his seeds are sold to over 50 companies, the progeny weighing about 1,000 lbs.

According to Richard, those interested in competing only require a pumpkin, and $20 for the entry fee.

Accompanying the championship will be a “guess the weight” competition. Richard himself will be donating one of his giant pumpkins to the competition. With $50 rewarded to who is able to guess the weight.

After the guessing will come the crushing of the gourd. The pumpkin will be dropped from a crane more than 100 feet in the air, onto a car donated by Worland’s Midway Auto Sales. “It’s one way to get instant pie filling,” Richard joked.

There’s only one entry per person allowed in the contest, any others will be entered as exhibition. Official rules of Great Pumpkin Commonwealth’s website states that the entry must be exhibited by the grower or team, meaning that the person or people who took care of and grew the pumpkins are the only ones applicable to enter the competition.

According to the website, the specimen must be healthy and undamaged and free of rot. The entry should be free of holes or cracks as well.

Sarah Lungren with Lungren Girls Farm started the competition locally in 2012. Richard explains that his goal with this event was to create an annual event that Worland can claim as its own.

Richard thanks sponsors of the competition, and is excited to see the outcome of the event.