CANFIELD, Ohio — Quinn Werner of Saegerstown, Pa., claimed his fifth championship at the Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers weigh-off with a 1,521.5-pound pumpkin. This was the third largest pumpkin grown in the world this year, missing the world championship by 15 pounds.
Werner claimed the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth’s Grower of the Year award with a combined weight of 4,477.5 pounds for his heaviest pumpkins exhibited at three different weigh-offs in 2008.
Runner up in the pumpkin division was Jerry Rose of Huntsburg, Ohio, at 1,446.5 pounds. Alan Gibson of Salem, Ohio, was third at 1,260 pounds.
Squash
The heaviest green squash award went to Steve Razo of New Middletown, Ohio, with a 1,093-pound beauty. This was the second heaviest green squash grown in the world this year.
Bill Neptune of New Concord, Ohio, displayed the largest watermelon with a 183-pound giant. Virginia and Jack Lanterman of Salem, Ohio, were second at 177.5 pounds.
A new Ohio record field pumpkin was shown by Glenn Orr of North Lima, Ohio. The Halloween-type pumpkin weighed 109.5 pounds. Chuck Meier of Canfield, Ohio, was second at 101 pounds.
Another Ohio record was broken by Duane Perry of North Lawrence, Ohio, with his 4.48-pound tomato.
Gourd
The longest gourd was grown by Sam Lovelace of Sparta, N.C., at 111 7/8 inches. David Palkovich of New Castle, Pa., was second at 111 5/8 inches. Dave Rumancik of Massillon, Ohio, set the Ohio record with a 105 1/4 inch long gourd.
Tim Parks, owner of the host Parks Garden Center, was named grand exhibitor with his entries of giant pumpkin, watermelon and field pumpkin.
Nick Harp of Massillon, Ohio, swept both the rowed and motorized divisions of the giant pumpkin boat races.
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