Giant pumpkins and watermelons had their day at the Fair earlier this week to ensure they are in place in time for fairgoers arrival. Fairgoers can see and photograph these giant beauties in the Agri
Supply Expo Center at the N.C. State Fair, Oct. 13-23.
This year the top three pumpkin growers all had pumpkins weighing more than 1,000 pounds. Chris
Rodebaugh of Lewisburg, WV placed first with a 1,461-pound pumpkin. Danny Vester of Spring Hope placed second and grew the largest North Carolina pumpkin at 1,217.5 pounds. Stephen Wright from Waynesboro, Va. placed third with his 1,106.5-pound pumpkin.
“We have some impressive entries this year,” said April Blazich, horticulture superintendent. “The winning pumpkin is particularly pleasing; it is a color we call ‘sexy orange’. The giant pumpkins and
watermelons always draw big crowds and this year’s fairgoers won’t be disappointed with the entries. They are all photo-worthy.”
Watermelons also had an impressive showing with the North Carolina showing having the highest Top 10 average weight of any watermelon show in the country. The winning watermelon is the third
largest watermelon in the world this year and was grown by Andrew Vial of Liberty and weighed 306 pounds. Second place was Patrick VanBeck of Willow Springs and weighed 291.5 pounds. Third place was Christopher Kent of Sevierville, Tenn. and weighed 287 pounds.
This special competition is sanctioned by The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, an international organization that promotes growing giant vegetables. The top three winners in pumpkins take home between $1.50 and $3 per pound. The top three winners in watermelons are awarded between $3 and $6 per pound. This year’s event was sponsored by Agri Supply.