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ipswich, ma usa

As reported in the Salem News (A local multi town news paper for the Topsfield/north of Boston area) for Sept 7th 2007 ---- "Many know the fair for its midway rides, games, fried dough, Italian sausages and the All-New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off with its monster orange beasts. Last year's record fair winner tipped the scales at 1,347.5 pounds and was carted here from Rhode Island by Ron Wallace.

You can catch the weigh-off at 9 a.m. Sept. 29.

The winning pumpkin this year will be on display throughout the fair in an air-conditioned glass case in the Vegetable Building after being weighed. The grand prize is $3,500, but O'Brien said whoever wins the contest will get to pick one of 50 envelopes for a chance at $10,000.

The "scuttlebutt" is there are some mammoth pumpkins headed Topsfield's way, O'Brien said." (O'Brien is the head of the Topsfield Fair)

A chance at 10 grand aint to shabby!!

John (5150) -- NEGPGA

9/7/2007 10:15:16 AM

Pembroke, New Hampshire

I've heard that all of the top 5 pumpkins will have to stay for the display, not just the winner....true? (Not that I'll have to worry....).

9/7/2007 10:57:29 AM

ipswich, ma usa

1st place is in the usual veggie barn display. 2nd thu 5th place are in a new display for the fair gowers to view. If you want to collect the prize money yes the pumpkins will have to stay. The fair wants people to see the pumpkins. One big issue we have been hearing thru feedback is people come to the fair to see the big pumpkins but they are already gone. Obviously this is do to the fact we weigh off early Saturday morning and fair goers on Monday never get to see them. This is the fairs way of letting more fair gowers see some huge specimens and hopefully help spread the hobby. The Fair people have constructed a protected area for the display to take place.

John (5150)

9/7/2007 11:42:19 AM

Il

Could you tell me what the rest of the prize structure is?
And where exactly is this?

9/7/2007 1:02:56 PM

Somers, CT

Topsfield is north of Boston, MA. At least that is a start.

9/7/2007 1:53:24 PM

Western NY

Joe (and everyone else), for a map of all the GPC sites, copy and paste this address:

http://www.zeesource.net/maps/emap.jsp?group=31672&x=-55.8984&y=50.9584&z=14

you'll need a connection faster than dialup, but these locations are precise, and you can even get directions from your home address to the site using this map.

9/7/2007 2:38:51 PM

and everyone thought Joe only had one big one going this year,,,heh heh

9/7/2007 3:05:03 PM

Topsfield,ma.

Topsfield is a all New England Weigh Off. Meaning only fruit grown in New England can compete. You must be a member of the NEGPGA to participate in the cash prizes.

9/7/2007 5:41:14 PM

Clinton, Iowa

Wrong??? they are a GPC site which means anyone can come and weigh a pumpkin or squash...Somebody please correct me if I am wrong..once you become GPC....that means you take any and all comers who grow....is this not the way it is ?
DAN CARLSON

9/7/2007 6:41:19 PM

Long Island,New York

I believe they would be welcome to GPC winnings(after all is tabulated) but not Topsfield Fair winnings.

9/7/2007 7:07:59 PM

[email protected]

Dan is correct as far as GPC prize money goes.

9/7/2007 7:08:34 PM

Coventry R.I.

hello john,, i will be going , save me some, dough boys lol, hope to see you there.
frank

9/7/2007 9:15:11 PM

ipswich, ma usa

Dan you are correct when it comes to a GPC cash prize pay out. But as far as the other monies go you are incorrect. The prize structure is by the NEGPGA and the Topsfield Fair. If you want to be elligible for that money you need to have a pumpkin grown in a New England state.

John (5150) -- NEGPGA director

9/7/2007 9:26:00 PM

[email protected]

Is this the only contest in the country that discriminates "outsiders"? Just doesn't sound right.... And also, if this is the case, do you do seed auctions and seed raffles on bigpumpkins.com? If you do, you should let people know that you do not allow outsiders at your contest (atleast for the prize monies that they helped raise with auctions and raffles). My 2 cents. Hate to sound harsh, but I have never heard of a contest that didnt allow everyone to compete.

9/7/2007 9:57:43 PM

ipswich, ma usa

Sorry you feel that way Rock

John (5150)

9/7/2007 11:11:47 PM

[email protected]

John,

Dont get me wrong, I have followed Topsfield for many years and always am impressed with the quality fruits and competitions that go on up there. Great people, super competitiors, but it is suprises me that in all of these years I have never heard of the "New England only" rule for prize structure. I wish you and the Topsfield weigh off only the best.

9/7/2007 11:49:20 PM

Rhode Island

article 1 weigh-off sites and club/group 11 a states

all gpc santioned weigh-offs are open to anyone wishing to participate without prejudice. all growers must comply with all rules and regulations set forth at the gpc they wish to participate in. any rules the gpc site wishes to have must be fair and impartial for all growers wishing to participate

without predudice means just that. far and impartial for all growers wishing to participate means just that.

it is in direct conflict with the gpc charter rules to deny prize money to anyone in competition. its also very unfair.

the spirit of our rules were to be impartial and fair with anyone wishing to attend aand compete at any gpc site --to meet the sites/clubs rules was written with regard to any membership fees was our intention.
the spirit of the rules was not intended to deny payout to certain growers based on where they live.

the sponsor needs to be made aware of this and rethink their stand on this issue. besides why would you not honor your biggest pumpkin ? no matter where it was grown?

this is not a slap at the nepga because i have a lot of friends in that organization and was also a former director.

its the fair who pays the prize money and wishes to set there own rules however, by the same token topsfielf fair must follow the gpc rules should they wish to participate.

dick wallace
gpc excommittee

9/8/2007 6:52:52 AM

[email protected]

And I was going to bring one of mine.
Oh well,
Eddy

9/8/2007 10:35:27 AM

ipswich, ma usa

In regards to the 24th annual "All New New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off" sponsored by the by the Topsfield Fair and the NEGPGA.

After careful consideration and consultation of the GPC rules and the Topsfield Fair/NEGPGA rules the directors of the NEGPGA and the GPC site cordinator interpret the rules as follows.

1 -- The 24th annual "All New England Giant Puumpkin Weigh Off" has always been an all New England weigh off as the name states since it's inception.

2-- This rule interpritation has not changed since the NEGPGA and the Topsfield Fair orginization has been a active participant within the GPC.

3 -- ALL pumpkins are welcome to weigh off at the Topsfield Fairs 24th annual All New England Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off and are elliglible for GPC prizes.

4 -- In order to qualify for NEGPGA/Topsfield fair prizes, pumpkins must be grown in one of the New England states and you must also be a member of the NEGPGA.

5 -- GPC Article I Weigh off sites and club/groups

"The GPC gives each site the flexibility to have prize money and payouts as they chose".

Any guestions please contact GPC site cordinator George Hoomis @ 978-356-0117

Thank you, NEGPGA

9/8/2007 12:26:24 PM

Rhode Island

the president of the gpc has been notified and will be in touch with george.

9/8/2007 1:16:50 PM

Western NY

Every weighoff site that I have been to has never cared where the pumpkins came from, they wanted the biggest possible fruit to showcase. In fact, I even went to one site that bragged that they got a grower to come all the way from NY to their contest.

I believe the "intent" of the payout flexibility mainly concerned those who wanted to merge pumpkin and squash payouts, farthest distance traveled prize, or the state or local record breaking bonuses. Not to exclude growers from the main prize schedule.

9/8/2007 1:49:32 PM

Long Island,New York

How is Topsfields payout guidlines for NE growers any different from Cooperstown's "Otsego county bonus" or Ontario's Bruce-Grey" type payouts? Is it just the way they phrase the winnings....a different way to protect the interests of the locals?
Personally....I think a competition amongs growers within a reasonably same weather environment is much more competitive and ultimately shows who's da man? Didn't wieghoffs always have "regions" to prevent the better growing regions from travelling mostly south to sweep less- friendly regions wieghoffs?.

9/8/2007 2:15:46 PM

Long Island,New York

By less-friendly im talking about growing environments....not people....lol....

9/8/2007 2:16:55 PM

Western NY

The Bruce-Grey is a completely separate (non-GPC) weighoff held the day after the GPC main event.

The Otsego county payout is significantly smaller than the main prize schedule for cooperstown, as there hasn't been (from memory) a pumpkin over 600 pounds from otsego county yet. I guess in that case, it's a way of keeping the local growers (and chamber of commerce) happy and involved.

9/8/2007 2:41:50 PM

Waquoit Mass

AHHH its amazing how much things change but really stay the same

9/8/2007 4:20:44 PM

anytown U.S,A,

So I guess Topsfield is not receptive to outsiders must have there own little click out there. I guess you can only grow giants in New England. Sounds like to me that want to keep the money local but also want everyone to bring there big ones there. Just my opinion

9/8/2007 5:28:27 PM

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

Gosh I wish some good ol folk from back east would attend our colorado weighoff. it may take a 1000 pounder to take first place LOL, but the money would be yours. Does not matter where you came from, as the big fruit wins under GPC rules takes the pot as long as it is sound and solid under the rules. We would welcome a grower that drove over a 1000+ miles and days of driving to weigh in....Just the plain old boring colorado truth...Happy weighing, JK

9/10/2007 3:24:26 AM

Team Munson

All, I have discussed this issue with the NEGPGA. Topsfield Fair will be open to all growers wishing to have their fruit officially weighed for GPC recognition. As far as prize money only New England residents are eligible for monetary pay outs. The NEGPGA receives it's prize money from the Topsfield Fair and the Topsfield Fair decides who to pay or not.

The Topsfield Fair is a charter member of the GPC and has been a valued weigh-off site scince the GPC's inception. This issue will be revisited in the winter with the Topsfield Fair board and I feel confident a mutually acceptable agreement can be reached.

Good Luck to all this fall
Dave Stelts

9/10/2007 8:41:36 AM