CANFIELD, Ohio — A new world and state record was set Oct. 7 at the Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers sixth annual weigh-off at Parks Garden Center, Canfield.
David Stelts of Leetonia, Ohio, broke the records with his 1,140-pound pumpkin. The state record of 1,109 pounds was previously held by Todd Skinner of Barnesville, Ohio, and the world record of 1,131 pounds was held by Gerry Checkon of Spangler, Pa.
Stelts received $1,500 in prize money from Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers and $2,000 from the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth. The giant pumpkin had a circumference of 16 feet.
The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth conducted weigh-offs at 21 sites across North America. Parks Garden Center was a clearinghouse for results.
Fred Calai of Canfield, Ohio, won first place in the watermelon weigh-off with a melon weighing 139.5 pounds. Harvey Giffin broke the state record for hard-stemmed pumpkins with his entry weighing in at 105 pounds.
Frank Lanterman of Youngstown showed the winning tomato at 2.86 pounds. Mark Richard of Midland, Pa., also won his category with his 20.88-pound muskmelon.
The Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers consists of 240 members. The group offers growing seminars, pumpkin seeds and more. For more information or to join the group, contact Parks Garden Center at 330-533-7278.
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