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Plymouth,MA

How much will it weigh? any predictions? Shall we make a game ...... "Price is Right" rules - closest to without going over

1/21/2007 10:54:41 AM

Rhode Island

1,575 pap wallace
1,574 dave stelts
1,573 joe jutras
1,572 steve sperry
1,571 freddie mac
1,570 pete rondeau
1,569 steve dalatas
1,568 joe pukos
1.567 frank buglio
1,566 geneva emmons
1,565 dave hampton
1,564 steve connolly
1,563 jack larue
1,562 jerry rose
1,561 ron wallace
plus 15 others tied at 1560

1/21/2007 2:26:23 PM

Cologne Brescia Italy

lol!

1/21/2007 2:35:56 PM

Hamburg, NY

Pap, What do you think about my 2,000 lb record prediction by 2012? You guys are getting real good. Don't cut your self short on this one! Anybody got any prize ideas? My friend Kelly Schultz from the Clarence NY, The Great Pumpkin Farm is talking about a new pickup for the 25th anniversary weigh-off in October! Does that peak your interest? What is the GPC going to offer for the first 2,000 lber? The WPC gave $53,000 USD for the first 1,000 lber! You've got 5 years to work on it. Call me if you need any help. Because I have some good ideas. Ray Waterman

1/21/2007 4:39:17 PM

ordinary,VA

Quinn Werner 1537

1/21/2007 5:31:09 PM

Western NY

http://bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=19&p=154009

statistically, we're looking at 1578 this year, but it wouldn't suprise me to see just over 1600.

my bet would be at least 2015 to hit the 2000 pound mark, unless we make a major jump.

1/21/2007 6:01:56 PM

Frankfort Oh

my prediction ,,,,,,is 1553#,,,,,,,,and if im on the money ,,,,,you owe me ,,lol

1/22/2007 12:57:17 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

I guess a non-record breaking year in 2007, with the largest being 1456 lbs.

1/22/2007 1:16:34 AM

West By God Virginia

I believe Quinn will do it and the weight will be 1545. Yes there's a reason for me picking 1545! Figure it out LOL

1/22/2007 7:57:04 AM

Rhode Island

Pap...I HOPE I' included in that 15 way tie???

1/22/2007 10:16:42 AM

Coventry R.I.

pap, i,ll be happy to get half that weight lol, but thanks

1/22/2007 12:07:58 PM

Rhode Island

Ray

A chance for a new truck is certainly worth the 500 mile ride.
Besides i always liked the idea of visiting different weighoffs,meeting and making new friends, learning ,etc.

I think thats the next step within our gpc competitions. With multiple weigh off dates a grower or growers can team up and travel to a second or third site. Great for the hobby and its spectators as well.

I firmly believe that the clarance weigh off and yourself would be great additions to the gpc.somewthing i mentioned to you in private email last summer.

egos and attitudes aside, you and Howard Dill were the first to promote and market interest in giant pumpkin growing.

Things happened and times changed but you and Howard certainly played the lead way back when. Its a shame you and the GPC could not team up.

Your promotional skills are unmatched and would bring valuable and experience to the GPC.

Pap

1/22/2007 1:35:14 PM

Western Pa.

When Quinn grows that first 2000#er, I think it should be worth more than a pick-up truck (Any brand). Maybe you could pay $53,000 for every pumpkin over 1000# he grew before the 2000# one! Waddya think Quinn?

1/22/2007 2:18:37 PM

Hamburg, NY

Pap, Kilr - this is what I think!

If we’re going to talk big prizes for big pumpkins here, we will need to get away from the multiple weigh-off dates idea. That was a huge blunder from the start. Although it is nice for the guys to not only shop around but to visit other events; it will not lead down any promotional award road for a major prize. As it is now I see only less prize money and a diffused award possibility – kind of like the little league end of sports. It might be hard medicine to swallow but in truth that is where this is headed. No good can come from the present plan that will not allow a major sponsor to be sought. If we set egos and attitudes aside we would still be thinking major league World Pumpkin Confederation with a single date, major event and huge prizes – kind of like the NFL where the promotion and prizes are controlled in a “Superbowl” setting. The egos that took this down the current path were not that of Howard Dill or myself. We were no threat. If you will recall the GPC was started without either of us. I just want to make that point clear. So, what about the award for the first 2,000 lber? I will not take my valued skills or experience down the wrong road! Without a major league idea here soon much could be lost for the sport/hobby!

Ray Waterman

1/22/2007 4:27:04 PM

Auburn Maine, USA

1514 Lishness

1/22/2007 4:41:36 PM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

i happen to know tom l has some awsome seed and he just migth grow the next record if he does im gonna be one of the first to shake his hand!

1/22/2007 8:51:39 PM

Auburn Maine, USA

I think Tom needs a pumpkin yacht

1/22/2007 8:58:28 PM

Rhode Island

sorry you feel so strongly about a fixed weigh off day.if we went back to taht then clubs like sngpg to name one. would go back yo independant. plus id think many others.
buy your wpc can hold any day they wish and still be a member site of the gpc.

the gpc cash awards took a hit last year when we reduced from $500. per site fee down to three levels of competition 300,200,100, rather than the $500.00 prior fee.
it did take a lot of money off the cash awards table but our member/site numbers went way up.eventuallt ant that came in ar 100. or 200. will go to 300. once there sites are firmly in placethats whae we believe and thats one of the gpc goals.

once we get a few more sites on board we will be able to get bavk to larger sit numbers we will reinstated more cash weighout packages for gpc members/sites

besides now we can offer a little something back yo each club yearly in the form of extra large ribbins, a banner and the oppoprtunity to win some cash

if we had everything we needed we would not be talking now would we?

1/23/2007 12:34:55 AM

Rhode Island

to further my comments first please excuse my wording in the last reply to ray. i had taken some strong prescription cough medicine and was a bit out of there. lol

getting back to the gpc award schedule for a moment. before we instituted many of the changes the first thing we wanted to do was get something to at least the gpc sites top ten finishers.
prior to 2005 only the sponsor got a plaque and nothing was guarenteed to go to any participants.
also, most of the prize money went to only the best growers and in many cases the same growers yearly.many sites never saw dime one for there participants.a situation we did not think was fair.

also asked ourselves ,why pay $500 just to say you belong to a major pumpkin organization?
we wanted a more reasonable entrance fee so the small medium and large sites could still afford membership.

eventually, as we grow, we will be passing cash awards back to each site ,im sure. possibly even this year.

dick

1/23/2007 6:35:19 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

Dick:
The GPC has done some great things in the past 3 years.The aggressive pursuit of more weigh off sites under the GPC umbrella is good at a grass roots level. This is kind of like building infrastructure - (a very good thing for AG growing in general) - exposure to more people and expanding the market for those interested in competitive gardening pursuits. (Incidentally, looks like Danny Dill has gotten AG seeds at retail in Lowe's Stores now...a great exposure to the mass market!!!)
Ray does make a great point that I have heard discussed by others as well - too many sites may have the end effect of diluting the quality of fruit at each individual weigh off. To draw a big time sponsor you need a concentration of the biggest & best fruit to make a big event attended by many, and with a significant amount of media coverage.You only get that kind of of 'hyped event' when you have that Superbowl type atmosphere. As it stands now, the GPC offers a great infrastructure for individual sites to start from. But it remains up to the individual sites, whether they are GPC or not, to distinguish themselves by seeking their own sponsorship/offering prize money to get the biggest at their site. The Catch 22 of course, is that you need the money to draw the pumpkins, you need the pumpkins to draw the audience & media. You need the audience & media to draw the sponsor. Pretty tough to get the sponsor on board first without the other things in place. A corporate sponsor will only jump on board with a) guaranteed GRPs (gross ratings points), or b) a significant amount of good PR garnered for the company by supporting a cause or community event. Its a tough sell but one which starts with the grass roots expansion you are now doing.

One route to consider if you are seeking corporate sponsorship at the national GPC level is to bring a charity on board that benefits somehow from GPC events. The presence of that charity may draw in a corporate sponsor.

1/23/2007 7:54:14 AM

ohio

pap:
Is that cough medicine called Budweiser????

1/23/2007 8:19:50 AM

New Brunswick

do not count CANADA out yet for a 1600 pounder.

1/25/2007 5:44:09 PM