egarrard
10-11-2004, 04:59 PM
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=156862
http://abcnews.go.com/images/US/CAPS10210112116.jpeg
A retired Washington state firefighter who grows giant pumpkins in his spare time produced the winning pumpkin Monday at the 31st annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off.
The pumpkin, grown by 55-year old Joel Holland of Puyallup, Wash., tipped the scales at 1,229 pounds 49 pounds heavier than last year's winner. Its circumference was 13 feet, 7 inches.
Holland, whose prodigious pumpkins won the contest three years in a row, from 1992 through 1994, planted this year's winning pumpkin plant in May. He transported the giant gourd to California on a huge flatbed pickup truck, covering it with towels and blankets to protect its skin from dehydration.
Contest spokesman Tim Beeman said 80 pumpkins competed for the top prize, and eight weighed more than 1,000 pounds.
http://abcnews.go.com/images/US/CAPS10210112116.jpeg
A retired Washington state firefighter who grows giant pumpkins in his spare time produced the winning pumpkin Monday at the 31st annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off.
The pumpkin, grown by 55-year old Joel Holland of Puyallup, Wash., tipped the scales at 1,229 pounds 49 pounds heavier than last year's winner. Its circumference was 13 feet, 7 inches.
Holland, whose prodigious pumpkins won the contest three years in a row, from 1992 through 1994, planted this year's winning pumpkin plant in May. He transported the giant gourd to California on a huge flatbed pickup truck, covering it with towels and blankets to protect its skin from dehydration.
Contest spokesman Tim Beeman said 80 pumpkins competed for the top prize, and eight weighed more than 1,000 pounds.