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Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

Just curious as what the other clubs "out there" are doing. Do you have monetary awards for your Junior Weigh-off entries? How do you define "Juniors". 12 -17? 5 -16? At what age do you think a "Junior" can really grow their own BIG one?

2/24/2006 12:34:19 AM

Itzetown City

Look at Alex Boyton, I'm sure in 2 years he's growing his own.lol

2/24/2006 3:36:53 AM

Waquoit Mass

most clubs dont do it because theres always hard feelings about how much the dads helped .

2/24/2006 9:11:16 AM

Jericho Vermont

We have a junior division at our weigh off and it is ribbon only. This way you don't have folks weighing the biggest "family" pumpkin in the junior division to win. Last year my son had just turned 11 and did atleast 90 percent of the work for his plant and pumpkin including germination and pollination. I still believe the overall size of the jr fruit is directly influenced by how good the adult grower is as well as soil and fertilizing programs.

A child grower from most heavy hitters would probably dominate most jr weighoffs due to the garden they grow in and by utilizing the parents fertilizing system and knowledge of growing.

2/24/2006 12:06:18 PM

Cologne / Germany

At our weigh-off, we always have a competiton "smallest pumpkin" which is much fun for the kids. It´s not that easy as it sounds. You need something like flat striped to have a real small fruit that is ripe and weighs extremely light. Basically one of the highlights every time before the "adult class" is going to the scales.

2/24/2006 3:05:37 PM

Long Island,New York

Thats easy to beat Flo....grow a jack b little and dry it before the contest...its like a gourd when done...

2/24/2006 4:30:43 PM

Cologne / Germany

LOL G...that´s the contest of the kids...should we teach them how to do the trick on their plant...or learning by doing

2/24/2006 5:14:08 PM

Norton, MA

Topsfield has a youth devision. It's not at all serious, they don't have a weighoff, each is just weighed. They don't have fancy rules either. I have always competed in the adult class because it's the only real way, even though I came in last in 03. I've done significantly better since then. SNGPG at Frerichs has only one group as it's not a fair like Topsfield, just a great weighoff site. My parents don't know heads or tails from a pumpkin so I grow them 100%. I'm 15 and watch what comes out of my patch this year, absolutely no help from anyone else (besides the normal grower to grower advise). AleX Noel.

2/24/2006 7:50:48 PM

Greencastle, PA

The PGPGA has no junior class. I've at least trying to compete with everyone else since I started in 2001. I'm currently 17, and nobody in my family knows anything about pumpkins. At times it makes me angry to see the children of some other growers getting credit for large pumpkins that wouldn't have been half the size without their parents' help.
Tom

2/25/2006 2:59:31 AM

addison Il

Hey floh i like the sound of that competion me and sis would of taken it last seasaon have fun all.

2/25/2006 11:04:50 AM

Norton, MA

Exactly hey you. There are some who truly grow seperate from their families, many, though they may do some or alot of the stuff don't entirely grow the pumpkin. The parents do alot of the hard stuff, like spraying, tilling, and that. Without the hard stuff, it's not the whole deal. I'm not against the fact that a family can grow enough giants to let the kids enter a winner, and I'm absolutely for getting kids into this, those things are great. I believe though that experienced growers see who grows alone, and take us more seriously. AleX Noel.

2/25/2006 1:57:48 PM

ENGLAND

Going back some years ago now there was a heck of a load of trouble at one competition here where a young person, i THINK she was only about 6 years old, had her name on an entry, in the Junior Section, that weighed something like 400 Lbs. The judjes found out that her Uncle, or some relative, grew the Pumpkin and decided to rob all the other kid of their rightfull 1st prize. I cannot remember the exact outcome but i certainly remember the very heated arguement that took place once all was revealed.

Mike

2/25/2006 3:48:28 PM

Greencastle, PA

I agree that it's good to get kids interested in growing. However, I also believe in credit where credit is due. I've tried not to express any bitterness regarding the issue, but rather aim to improve my own skills to the point where I won't have to worry about anybody beating me. A guy can have dreams...
Tom

2/25/2006 4:02:04 PM