Winner to be Crowned Friday in Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off

By Linda Bock

A 2009-pound pumpkin broke the world record for giant pumpkins at the Topsfield Fair in 2012. Ron Wallace of Greene, R.I.’s monster-sized pumpkin won that year.

Will the record be broken at this year’s Topsfield Fair?

The 196th Topsfield Fair kicks off on Friday afternoon, and the highly anticipated New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off will take place at 4 p.m. at the Fairgrounds. The fair opens at 1 p.m. Friday afternoon, and will continue through Columbus Day at the Topsfield Fairgrounds.

Excitement has been building for this year’s 31st New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off, and Maryann Hoomis of the New England Pumpkin Growers Association said she expects a great showing. She said there are roughly 35 giant pumpkins entered into this year’s contest.

“We do really think it’s going to be a great year,” Hoomis said.

Farmers will begin unloading their prized pumpkins at 1 p.m. in the arena.

Pumpkins must weigh a minimum of 350 pounds to be eligible for the contest. After Friday’s contest, the first-place through fifth-place winning pumpkins will be on display for the duration of the 10-day fair.

The New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off began in 1984, and the winning giant pumpkin weighed 433 pounds. The winner, Wayne Hackney of New Milford, Conn, joined Hugh Wiberg and Tom Cone to form the New England Pumpkin Growers Association, and Topsfield Fair became the official weigh-in site.

The giant pumpkin weigh-in at the Topsfield fair became so popular, that a cut-off weight had to be instituted. Now, pumpkins must weigh a minimum of 350 pounds to be eligible for the contest. In 2008, the top 25 entries each weighed more than 1,000 pounds.

The giant pumpkin weigh-off .at the Topsfield Fair brought international recognition in 2002 when Charlie Houghton of New Boston, N.H.’s giant pumpkin was deemed the largest ever. The pumpkin weighed 1337.6 pounds and was officially entered into the Guinness Book of World Records.

The record fell in 2007 when Joe Jutras of North Scituate, R.I., brought in a 1,689-pound giant pumpkin, and then again in 2012.

Image: Photo of giant pumpkin at Topsfield Fair from a previous year.