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Rhode Island

i dont know about you but calling on my weigh off experiences over the years one thing seems to stand out.

its not the local heavy weights and their pumpkins because they will always be somewhere in contention.
its not the true first year grower cause they are just getting their feet wet in the hobby and are happy just to be there.
it is the growers who due to climate, experience, lady luck,(or lack there in ) cant seem to get over the hump and out of the that kidddie patch ( so to speak) row of pumpkins. this contest is your cup of tea.

have no fear pap is here. hes locked, cocked and ready to roll out a pumpkin contest for all those interested growers i described above.

it would be a competition where you would register your

1.name, address,phone number
2.gpc site your weighing off at ( only way to doccument your weight for all to see on bp )
3. send in registration fee ( $25.00 per person)
( 75 % of pool gets split equally between all weight classes and 25% to sngpg for administrating the contest.

weight class your pumpkin must fall into can be any of the following catagories.
000 to 399.
400 to 499,
500 to 599,
600 to 699,
700 to 799.
800 to 899.
900 to 1000

this is a closest to without goin over contest. in other words the grower whos pumpkin weighs closest to the maximum of any of the weigh classes wins that class. no need to pick a weight class, your final weight will determine that.

if enough people are interest i can post up and finalize the contestrules and entry form.

what do you think about this?

pap

2/19/2007 9:31:23 AM

Sophia WV

Sounds good to me

2/19/2007 9:45:51 AM

Logan Utah

awesome pap you think of everything way to go =)

2/19/2007 10:01:35 AM

Montoursville, PA

Pap.......good thinking. Gee I hope excluding first year growers that to win in any category the weight needs to be a personal best. Using myself as an example. I think I surely could grow a 499, 599, or 699. but I sure would hate to beat someone's personal best with less than a personal best for my efforts. I would need to produce a 764 or better to win.
.....since this is about fun and recognition I vote for a dandy hat pin with this image for 2007....Two items class and date. I more or less dislike money or trophy type give aways for nice but no cigar growing. That includes my own present efforts. I think I can see lots of good things for all who would surely wear that pin to meetings and activities. This is a take off of the National Field Archery Association that had a pointed buck head pin and the association NFAA image under it. My fifty year old four point buck pin is still sticking in my hat.

2/19/2007 10:12:09 AM

Elk Grove,Ca USA

pap
The only thing is that there needs to be some randomness, not more than say 3 fruit weighed, or someone needs to distinguish what they are growing and there needs to be complete honesty to truley be a contest of the under privledged. lol great idea, just a thought

2/19/2007 10:23:42 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Not to be a "stick in the mud", but what would prevent a grower from weighing several of his or her own fruits before the weighoff, and then bringing in the best one for this contest? If a grower had a scale (a hanging scale is not that expensive), and they weighed their own, one being 801 and the other being 599, if they were in this contest they'd probably deliver the 599.....

2/19/2007 11:15:41 AM

Montoursville, PA

Cliff.........to site an example from your question. In Pennsylvania the grower would be passing up a possible $100 category prize established in the history of the event to get an insignificant recognition of considerably less value. That was my thinking as to why the award should be small while providing recognition.

2/19/2007 11:32:07 AM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

too bad we couldnt break it up into regions.

2/19/2007 12:23:31 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I'm a little confused as to why a 599lb pumpkin will beat a 603lb pumpkin? I'll be sticking to the original plan of bringing the biggest damn pumpkin I have to Altoona, booby prize or not.

2/19/2007 12:33:42 PM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

Well Pap, you're sure to get a bunch to sign up now that they know there's a "booby prize".

2/19/2007 12:40:51 PM

[email protected]

It sounds like Pap had this already figured out when he said to name the weigh off you are bringing your fruit to. If you want to try a second or third weigh off, then it will cost you 25 bucks per site, I would think. Remember, it is 75 of all collected funds, broken down over 7 weight categories. Even if he got an amazing number, like 50 contestants, that would be 1250 bucks. Taking the 25 percent fee for the SNGPG, that leaves $937.50 (the club would make $312.50). With seven categories to pay out, $133.93 would be made with each category.

Keeping all of those figures in mind, for a 25 dollar registration, you would profit $108.93. So going back to the example Cliff talked about, it would probably make more sense to take the 801 pounder and make a possible 100 bucks for an 8th or 10th place in a site prize, than to take the 599 pounder and risk it weighing 600 at the site scale and getting nothing for a 25 dollar investment.

The contest is set up to have some fun, lets not overthink it. Take your best, enjoy whatever you may or may not get, and go from there. I plan on sending 25 bucks in, great idea pap. My biggest effort will be the one I have entered, that is for sure. One question though, is this just pumpkins, or can squash be included? I plan on growing a squash too. (had to include the green wave). lol

2/19/2007 1:07:08 PM

ordinary,VA

Sounds like a great idea.
but we have no gpc site in Virginia that i know of.
most growers here and there is not that many take our pumpkins to the State Fair.
They have a search for the great pumpkin weigh-off every year. last Saturday in September.
Altoona is about 8 hour drive from here. any gpc site closer?

2/19/2007 2:20:09 PM

Vermont

Wow, why do things have to get so complicated with such a simple contest?I myself wouldn't mind a little extra cash flow to help offset the cost of my hobby!! And at the same time help the sngpg.Win,lose or draw it'll add a little more excitement. Pap put together the contest as you want,and people will climb a board. Like PA Rock says let's not over think it,and have some fun!!!

2/19/2007 2:38:51 PM

Dummer Twp - Ontario

Sounds good to me Pap, like it just the way you have it, simple is better. Keep us posted

2/19/2007 3:33:52 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Ah well, no GPC site here. I'm kinda glad I don't have to worry about it.

2/19/2007 4:22:47 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Back to "boobs" again, eh Erin?.............lol

2/19/2007 6:52:05 PM

Rhode Island

A COUPLE REPLIES TO YOUR COMMENTS

SMALL PAYOUT FOR WINNER BASED ON 25.00 PER PERSON AND MONEY SPRED OUT OVER SEVEN PLACES --- YES PAYOUT IS DETERMINED BY TOTAL AWARD POOL LESS 25%. BUT WHEN YOU ENTER YOU 25.00 IT ALSO MEANS YOU HAVE SEVEN CATAGORIES ( chances ) YOU COULD WIN IN.

PRE WEIGHING FRUIT BEFORE WEIGH OFF ---- SO WHAT , YOU STILL NEED TO BEAT SOMEONE ELSE THAT EVEN WITHOUT PRE WEIGHING COULD BEAT YOU. BESIDES MOST PEOPLE THAT GROW PUMPKINS IN THE WEIGHT CLASSES IM REFERING TO IN THIS CONTEST WILL NOT FEEL THE NEED TO HEDGE THERE BETS

PLANNING ON BRINGING MY BIGGEST TO ALTONA EVEN IF IT MEANS A BOOBY PRIZE ------ YOU COULD STILL DO THAT AND COLLECT FROM THIS CONTEST AS WELL.

NO GPC SITE IN MY AREA. FIND THE NEAREST ONE AND PACK A LUNCH

AWARD AND CLUB TOTAL BREAKDOWN BY ROCKY ---- ALL IS TRUE , ITS ALSO A LOT OF RECORDING AND CHECKING AND MAILING OF PRIZE MONETY OUT FOR A SMALL PROFIT FOR OUR CLUB. MORE OF A FUN THING AND BESIDES. IF ENOUGH PEOPLE JOINED IN WE MAY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR A SECOND PLACE IN EACH WEIGH CLASS AS WELL.

WE WILL SEE HOW THE REST OF THE RESPONSE GOES

PAP
JUST A THOUGHT

2/19/2007 7:46:17 PM

ordinary,VA

Im a big guy pap might need to pack super size lunch :)
great idea sounds fun!!

2/19/2007 8:09:18 PM

Roanoke Il

pap 25% seams alittle high for a handling fee so if 100 people get in the pool your club gets 625 nice fund raiser for the club I guess seams really high to run a pool. that might take a hole 2-3 hours to figure it out I'd think 5% would be plenty but what do I know..mark

2/19/2007 8:11:13 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

It's a fund raiser, its an awesome idea. 25 percent covers time organizing, preparing, decideding who wins, and putting up with whiners when they loose.

2/19/2007 9:00:56 PM

western Kentucky

I like it.. sounds good, Pap. I'm very interested in the idea, it could be a lot of fun.

Justin Peek

2/19/2007 9:03:52 PM

Rhode Island

Mark

You dont have to join in. And by the way, if you would like to run it and take 5 pewrcent for your otrganization id be glad to offer up $25.00

pap

2/19/2007 10:20:00 PM

Taber, Alberta

I'm always game for things like this. When would the deadline for entering be? Sometime in the summer, or right before weighoff season?
Alan

2/19/2007 11:05:27 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Pack a lunch? More like 32 hours on the road and two nights in hotels for the round trip. ;-)

Don't mind me, do what you want, it doesn't matter.
It is essentially a lottery.

2/19/2007 11:25:30 PM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

How about a class for pumpkins grown at an altitude over 6000FT. I think there would be some good competition among the very few high altitude giant pumpkin growers. Also The lines of lattitude and longitude could be thrown into the mix of regions also. It could get way complicated, but I think altitude and the growers attitude are what accomplish a big fruit. Lower altitude = bigger pumpkins/ fact, higher altitude = A very tough game and learning experience and hopefully a big pumpkin with some innovations and lots of luck......Hopefully everyone has luck in 2007....JK

2/20/2007 3:05:25 AM

western PA

Can we get back to the Booby Prize and who will be entering??

2/20/2007 8:33:12 AM

Western NY

Mr.D&Me(Ed) - there's a GPC site in Elkin, NC. I went last year, and can highly recommend those folks. probably not much of a shorter distance for you, though.

2/20/2007 9:26:03 AM

Indiana

DOH! I dont plan on having anything under 1000 lbs :-)

2/20/2007 9:29:21 AM

Nashville, TN

If there's no GPC site close by - what about certified scales? With a manager's signature?

And what if we have too many 'kins to transport to a GPC site? With well-over a dozen plants - I MIGHT have that problem LOL

2/20/2007 1:33:25 PM

Mulino, Oregon

Pap, it seems to me that if it has to be a GPC site then perhaps the 25% should go to the GPC. Just a thought. Things like this do make it a lot of fun, but as you said it is also a lot of work for the person who organizes it. Are you really up for it Dick?

2/20/2007 2:37:59 PM

Cairo, Georgia

I'd be willing,,but no GPC site here either. Could I possibly do it like we did Tylers last year, with the Ag Dept.'s manager signing a weigh off sheet, and a picture of the pumpkin on the scale? Would like to be involved and help you anyway I could pap...consider it ok?

Ally

2/20/2007 4:25:49 PM

ordinary,VA

thanks for the info Andy good folks down in Carolina.
about 7 hour drive either way.

2/20/2007 5:11:18 PM

Linwood, NC

I will do it.

2/20/2007 7:35:42 PM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

I'll do it too. And heck, I'll even promise not to be disappointed if I grow a 1001 pounder!

2/20/2007 8:35:09 PM

Rhode Island

the problem with allowing additional weights other than those at a gpc site is that all contestants will not have access to the recorded weights and will question the results.

you no it will happen. its happens all the time on bp commentary.

its like they say you cant sastisfy everyone. but you do need to eliminate the possibility of as much gray area as you can.

a comment was made that seeing the pumpkins were to be weighed at a gpc site that the proceeds should go to the gpc. if the gpc wanted to run the contest id be more than happy to turn it over to them. the gpc is a great organization.

2/21/2007 7:35:56 AM

Indiana

So this would be limited to people that have never grown a 1000#er? Hey that includes me, but not after this year hehe.
Steve

2/21/2007 11:29:58 AM

Cairo, Georgia

so that shoots me out...

2/22/2007 12:50:23 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

LB would fit into the 000-399 cat.

2/22/2007 1:10:50 PM

ordinary,VA

Hey Ally, yeah it shoots alot of us out.

stiil sounds like good idea for people heading to a gpc site gives them a shot at some prize money.

2/22/2007 3:59:46 PM