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1,000 lb pumpkin tips North Okanagan scale

Spallumcheenѻýs Lloyd and Erma Main finish one-two with a pair of gourds totalling almost a ton
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Spallumcheenѻýs Lloyd Main stands behind his record-breaking 1,000 pound pumpkin at the weigh-in of the annual Pumpkin Growing contest, part of the Armstrong-Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerceѻýs Harvest Pumpkin Festival Saturday, Oct. 17, at the IPE Grounds. (AS Chamber Photo)

Good gourd.

Farmers and future farmers weighed their prized pumpkins on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Armstrong Interior Provincial Exhibition Fairgrounds as part of the 20th Annual Harvest Pumpkin Festival hosted by the Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce.

The annual weigh-in is sponsored by Valley First.

ѻýWhen we started the weigh-in 20 years ago, we didnѻýt realize what the future held in store,ѻý said Sean Newton, chamber president.

The largest pumpkin grown by Lloyd Main weighed in at a whopping 1,000 pounds. Erma Main was close with her pumpkin tipping the scales at 967 pounds.

The Spallumcheen husband-wife combo was one-two in 2019 with Ermaѻýs winning gourd weighing in at 797 pounds, 22 pounds heavier than Lloydѻýs entry.

In the youth category, Kinley Pshykѻýs pumpkin weighed in at 214 pounds.

ѻýSince May, local growers have been nurturing giant pumpkins using some top-secret methods,ѻý weigh in volunteer Mike Paull said. ѻýSome fertilizer, TLC and a sunshade will help grow a heavy pumpkin but good weather also helps.ѻý

The winner in the adult category will receive $500 while the youth winner will receive $50 thanks to Valley First.

Scott Carley of Langley currently holds the record for the biggest Giant Pumpkin in B.C. at 1,543 pounds.

ѻýWe encourage everyone to think about growing a pumpkin for next yearѻýs competition. Who knows we might have an 1,100-pound pumpkin,ѻý said Newton with a smile. ѻýThe Township of Spallumcheen is where farming comes first.ѻý



roger@vernonmorningstar.com

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Pumpkin Growing contest volunteer Barry Noonan marks down Kinley Pshykѻýs youth entry winning gourd of 214 pounds during the annual event Saturday, Oct. 17, at the IPE Grounds, part of the Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerceѻýs annual Harvest Pumpkin Festival. (AS Chamber Photo)


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