GREEN BAY—It was a chilly fall day for the annual Har-Cor Diesel and Farm Supply pumpkin weigh-in, but the smiles of the children as they watched owner Dave Harper carefully weigh their pumpkins was enough to warm any heart. Mr. Harper’s wife, and Har-Cor co-owner Sheryl Harper, was also on hand, barbecuing lunch for participants and their families.
“I think this is our fifth year for the weigh-in,” Mr. Harper told The Expositor as he helped a young Little Current boy place his pumpkin on the scale. “We started this event for the kids. We wanted to encourage kids to get outside and grow things.”
Since its inception, the annual pumpkin weigh-in has been a success, with this year no exception, bringing out just under 20 children.
The event started at 11 am, with 12-year-old Aaron Lewis’ 180 pound pumpkin in the lead until 11:30. With each new pumpkin, the kids flocked to the scale to see if there was a new top weight.
“I started it in the house in early March,” Aaron, of Providence Bay, said. “Then I moved it outside at my grandparents’ house (in Spring Bay) the first of June. I’m happy with how big this one is, but last year I came in second with a 300 pound pumpkin. I don’t have a secret to growing big pumpkins, but I did use lots of manure.”
When the Wilkin family showed up, six-year-old Matthew Wilkin’s 188 pound Atlantic Giant took the lead, but warned the crowd that his brother’s pumpkin was even bigger.
Other great pumpkins came in as well like 13-year-old Elizabeth Wood’s 136 pound pumpkin, Pat Julig’s 120 pounder, George Gibson’s 92 pound pumpkin and three-year-old Alexis McGraw’s 54 pound orange beauty.
When nine-year-old Allan Wilkin’s pumpkin arrived, it was clear it would be the day’s winner (the pumpkins had to come in separate trucks due to their size). Allan’s pumpkin was so large, Mr. Harper had to use a backhoe to move it from the back of the Wilkin’s truck to the scale.
After carefully fiddling with the scale before an anxious crowd, Mr. Harper announced the pumpkin’s weight of 315 pounds!
“That’s a Jim dandy,” said Mr. Harper of the pumpkin. “One of the biggest ones we have ever had.”
Following the weigh-ins, everyone enjoyed a lunch of hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, refreshments and homemade cupcakes.
“This year’s first place winner is Allan Wilkin and his 315 pound pumpkin,” declared Mr. Harper following lunch. Allan was awarded the grand prize of $100. “In second place is Matthew Wilkin (who received $50).”
“I thought it would maybe weigh 200 pounds,” said Allan of his winning pumpkin. “Our aunt brought us (he and his brother Matthew) back Atlantic Giant seeds from Nova Scotia. Our cousins grow national winners.”
“I started it in the house,” said Allen of growing his pumpkin. “I used special fertilizer too and lots of water. I was really surprised at how big it got.”
As for what the brothers will do with their winnings, they weren’t sure yet.
No one left empty handed, as everyone who entered a pumpkin received a toonie, in addition to a great morning of fall fun.
