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Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

We had our first weigh-off in Mt.Pleasant,Iowa this year and had a good turn out. The people that put it on put up $400 dollars for the prizes. Only half got something back in cash and would like to get more money raised to pay for more places and other veg. like watermelon and long gourd.
I really don't want an auction to deal with and we have so many of them now. Does a raffle work well? and what are the negatives. Or is there something else we could do?
I know its early but I need to get ideas. I want this to get bigger every year and I need your help.

Thanks Marty Schnicker

10/17/2007 7:17:55 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Marty, as part of the newly formed (really still in the forming process) Kentucky Giant Pumpkin Growers , we are in the same cunundrum (sp) you are. We have talked about an auction, and a seed distributrion pkg. We are also trying to gear up (push each other) to look for local, and national sponsors. We had a brotha from WV step up and help us out this year (BIG TIME) with prize money, and hope we can (with help from all KGPG growers) step up a little next year!!! Wish you well!!! Grow em BIG!!! Peace, Wayne

10/17/2007 8:46:55 PM

Rhode Island

marty

you have been a member with the sngpg for several years now so i think you have some idea what is needed just by reading our newsletters and seeing what we have accomplished in three short years

1. get a sponsor thats willing to put up a few thousand dollars not 400.prospective sponsors need to be convinced of the attention the weigh off will draw to their business. if not you will always be a small weigh off. hell if a used car lot was willing to put up a substantial amount for sponsorship and i had no better monitary deal id start there.

2. get your core group of growers together and concentrate on helping on another so your weigh off show will have bigger pumpkins
big pumpkins attract attention from media as well as fellow growers across the country. this in turn gets your sponsor excited as well.

3.by all means hold a local raffle or meatball dinner if thats what it takes to get some funds into your club.

4. auctions work well but to make any money you will need top seeds that people are willing to pay for.

10/18/2007 11:03:24 PM