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Rumor has it another 1500+ pounder has just been weighed. Anyone got any scoopor results yet?

10/8/2007 3:01:57 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

I'm looking at hmbreview.com and there is a blurb that says "Thad Starr... 1524 pounds..." but the picture doesn't match the caption.

10/8/2007 3:13:05 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Thad Starr of Pleasant Hill Oregon jumps for joy after his pumpkin weighs in at 1,524 pounds, winning 2007 Half Moon Bay Pumpkin weigh-off Monday morning and setting a weight record for the festival. Leigh Ann Maze/Review

That is the caption. But the picture as of this moment is a woman sitting on a park bench.

10/8/2007 3:16:14 PM

western PA

i am interested in those results too.

10/8/2007 3:16:32 PM

Thanks Cliff.

10/8/2007 3:17:02 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

I found more...

Bigger pumpkins this year
From staff reports

The weighing continues at the I.D.E.S. Hall in Half Moon Bay, but one thing was certain at 11 a.m. There will be a bigger pumpkin this year.

A Napa County grower managed to tip the scales at 1,292 with his gourd. That is bigger than last year's winner from Washington. There were still five pumpkins remaining to be weighed at 11 a.m.

---------------

Every year I ping this site a dozen times, hoping to find out what's happening out there!

10/8/2007 3:18:39 PM

lol.... totally understand Cliff. wish we were there too. thanks for being on the spot and giving us a place to go see! he sure looks happy huh!!!

10/8/2007 3:23:36 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

lol... They fixed the picture. This fellow is from Steve Daletas' home town, I believe. "Hey, where is Steve and what have you done to him!!!" (LOL, just kidding)

10/8/2007 3:26:41 PM

just saw a photo on the net of Steve D. he must be there too???? a pumpkin behind him on the scale that was 1200 something. any other HMB results anybody????

10/8/2007 3:30:42 PM

HALF MOON BAY: UPDATE: WINNING PUMPKIN SETS FESTIVAL RECORD
10/08/07 12:05 PDT
HALF MOON BAY (BCN)

A new Art and Pumpkin Festival record was set today when the winner of Half Moon Bay's annual pumpkin weigh-off came in at a whopping 1,524 pounds.

The grower of the pumpkin, Thad Starr, of Pleasant Hill, Ore., will receive $9,144 for his record-setting pumpkin. He won $6 for each pound of pumpkin.

The 34th annual event kicked off the pumpkin capital's Art and Pumpkin Festival, which takes place Saturday and Sunday.

About 80 contestants competed for the first-place prize of $7,000 for the heaviest pumpkin, according to festival officials.

Pumpkins were lowered by forklift onto a 5-ton capacity digital scale monitored by officials from the San Mateo County Agricultural Commissioner's Office.

Approximately $20,000 in prize money will go to the growers of the top 10 heaviest pumpkins and to the top three from San Mateo County. A special $500 prize will go to the most beautiful pumpkin.

The 2006 winner weighed in at 1,223 pounds, according to festival officials.

10/8/2007 3:40:03 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Just one week ago I was thinking to myself, "It looks like there is going to develop a permanent "rift" between east and west, in that we're bumping up against geographic differences and that pumpkin weights from the east will now trend bigger than west."

Never mind!

10/8/2007 3:49:35 PM

Yahoo!! Thad Starr proves today that growers out west need not put up "for sale" sign and move to the other side. Congrats to Thad and all other contestants at HMB 2007.

10/8/2007 4:01:18 PM

Key West, FL

Way to go Thad!! Congrats buddy!

Hey Shellie, good to hear from you! Missed you and Rock these past few years! Send me an email ([email protected])

10/8/2007 4:06:39 PM

hi Ben, we miss all you pumpkin-heads and growing pumpkins too. Esp. this time of year. When the kids are older and jobs don't get in the way we will do it again! Ben, we read you grew a monster this year.
Once a P-head always a P-head LOL
ok here is a link from 11 min ago re: HMB
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_7119067

10/8/2007 4:14:35 PM

Santa Rosa California

check these out http://video.nbc11.com/player/?id=164589

http://video.nbc11.com/player/?id=164562

10/8/2007 4:15:39 PM

PS - the seed that grew Thad's pumpkin is a west coast seed, too.

10/8/2007 4:20:14 PM

Hayward, CA

I was there. It was fantastic experience for a first time weigh-off. Even got to meet a few of the heavy hitters and was amazed at how friendly and down to earth they were. Great job guys!!!

10/8/2007 4:35:24 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

What seed did Thad use? How did Vince do? TIA

10/8/2007 4:37:50 PM

Key West, FL

It was a 237 Leland or something like that. Apparently mice ate Neal's stash of them so they're pretty rare now. LOL

10/8/2007 4:44:04 PM

Belgium Europe

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=456&sid=1263348

Congrats,Thad!

10/8/2007 4:47:17 PM

The final three pumpkins are shown together before being taken to the stage to be weighed.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?o=3&f=/n/a/2007/10/08/national/a123614D09.DTL

10/8/2007 5:07:00 PM

227 Leland 2006 [723 Bobier (F) x 1370 Rose (M)]

10/8/2007 5:28:49 PM

Aloha, Oregon

Awsome Job Thad Happy to see the 1400 lbers come to Oregon from Brett and Steve at Canby and now to hear you got a 1500 lber is just awsome.Great Work Thad...!!!!

Thanks!

Jordan

10/8/2007 8:40:02 PM

seattle

Don't forget... New Oregon State Record...

10/8/2007 9:10:27 PM

Washington

Thad was first, Joel second and Jim Sherwood was third.

10/8/2007 9:52:54 PM

Parker, Co

Top THREE AT HALF MOON BAY
#1... THAD STAR 1524
#2...JOEL HOLLAND 1384
#3...JIM SHERWOOD 1343
It was a great weigh off! i meant to take a pic of the board but i totally forgot! i did write down the top 3. Leonardo Urena was 4 with 1292...steve daletas 5th with a 1205(?)....after that i am a loss. Thad's pumpkin was a beauty. Creamy colored and NO RIBS ...smooth skin..great shape. what can i say? She was something to see. Congrats to Thad!......cg

10/8/2007 10:45:22 PM

Pleasant Hill, Or

Thanks everybody! What an awesome experience and incredible honor it was to grow this pumpkin. Pretty much everything about the pumpkin and plant were near perfect. It was an easy plant to manage and the pumpkin is a beautiful, smooth and heavy monster.

It was grown off of a 227 Leland 06. Neal Didn't get many seeds out of this pumpkin, and generously donated about 30 to the PGVG club. They went out in the seed distribution last spring, so if you are a member, dig through your seed pack and send them to me! LOL!

Many thanks goes out to Steve Daletas and Neal Leland for putting up with me through the summer and coaching me with this pumpkin of a lifetime.

Did anyone notice Ben Bortners guess in the "win a 998 Pukos thread" a few weeks ago? Thanks buddy, you can guess my weights anytime!

10/9/2007 12:11:27 PM

Mulino, Oregon

Thad,what about me? I purposely made my two biggest fruit split in September so you could win! LOL What a rush it was. A great crowd, very gracious hosts and an incredible show! Thanks Half Moon Bay! (Tim, Jack, John, Danny, Mel etc...)

Jim Sherwood

10/9/2007 2:45:48 PM

Key West, FL

Hey Jim, congrats to you too buddy. Glad to see you get a big one!


My guess in the "win a 998 Pukos thread" was 1525, LOL. I wish I was that skilled!

10/9/2007 9:23:55 PM

ordinary,VA

Big time Congrats Thad!!
seen the video online!!
very nice job

10/9/2007 10:10:22 PM

Castro Valley California

Congratulations Thad. Sorry we didn't get a chance to talk but I guess we will another time.

Nice Pumpkin!

Jim Martin

10/10/2007 2:16:43 PM

Port Alberni, BC, Canada

Congratulations Thad, Joel and Jim, top three at HMB.
Joel's 1384 came from the 1142 van Kooten. Thank you Joel for growing it. That seed has produced some very nice pumpkins.

Jake

10/10/2007 4:13:56 PM

SF Bay Area, California

Awesome, awesome pumpkin, Thad, congratulations! Great tall round shape. What did you cross the 1524 with? I hope it was something orange....

Congratulations also to Joel and Jim on their personal bests. I thought there for a bit that Joel was gonna 4peat.

10/10/2007 5:24:38 PM

Pleasant Hill, Or

Ya Vince, that pause the announcer did just before revealing the weights scared the heck out of me!

I did cross it with an orange producer. Maybe not the super deep, beautiful orange you are use to, but fairly orange. The male pollinator is the 985 Werner. Still growing and waiting for one final weigh-off. Did the reverse too.

Thanks everyone for the congrats and support. I think it was Pap who described the "ride" you go thru with a big one. Was he ever right! I am still having trouble sleeping...

Thad

10/11/2007 12:29:49 AM