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Penryn California

Some controversy in California as to how to determine the Howard Dill winner at our weighoffs. Half Moon Bay has one person decide 4 contenders then has the crowd applaud to decide. Elk Grove has anyone there vote for People’s Choice. Hard Rock gives each entered grower one vote. How do other weighoffs do it so as to preserve the HD standards and prevent bias towards or against any individual grower? It’s a very prestigious award so maybe we should have a consistent national method for deciding it.

11/23/2023 11:34:03 AM

Syracuse, NY

I say 'over 500 pounds' or I'll be showing up with my 499s, lol. eg

11/23/2023 11:48:02 AM

Topsfield,ma.

Go Too GPC1.org, Rules and Handbook, page 22 & 23 to see our recommendations.

11/23/2023 3:50:45 PM

Eugene,OR

I always thought a Hunger Games Cage Match fight to the death would be a good way to settle it.

11/24/2023 11:13:40 AM

Colorado

Weve(RMGVG) been doing best of 5 grower judges(without their pumpkin in the running).Trying for over 500 lbs. Value to color,shape,smoothness and size.theres always gonna be some bias-were just trying to award the most deserving pumpkin.

11/24/2023 3:46:04 PM

Torrance, Ca.

lol Russ! If I blow mine out or disease continues, I may have to go orange in 2025.

Wood's is on it!

11/24/2023 10:33:29 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

I have wanted a scale based on Color, Symmetry, Shape and Size for many years. Come to River Prairie or Stillwater if you want to see big and orange.

11/27/2023 9:05:27 PM

NILES , CALIF

Half moon bay gives out A Loud Applause Howard Dill Award?
So when you take your orange pumpkin there,none of that shape color symetry smoothness matter It has to be A Cute pumpkin to get the loud applause

Half moon bay has only 3 or 4 forklifts so one person decide which 3 or 4 orange pumpkin can even get in the applause part of it,the rest of orange growers are not even considered in the applause part.
GPC should get invoved in this make it fair for all the orange growers that take there pumpkins there

Hardrock Howard Dill is a true Howard Dill award

11/30/2023 2:51:55 AM

Jericho Vermont

The GPC recommendations are from what we have done at the Vermont weigh off for years. You have to have a pumpkin in the weigh off to be able to share your opinion. The votes are also written and tabulated by a weigh off worker. If there are any questions the slips can be brought out and publicly counted. The slip of paper has this on it:
HD Award
A)    Qualities to look for are smooth orange/orange red color.
B)    Symmetry of the fruit and freeness of sag lines and mis-shaped areas.
C)    Size - although VT does not have a minimum size most clubs use a 500-pound minimum as a guideline.
D)    In case of a tie the heaviest pumpkin wins.
Pumpkin voted for = _______________________________

11/30/2023 4:48:33 PM

Jericho Vermont

The GPC recommendations are from what we have done at the Vermont weigh off for years. You have to have a pumpkin in the weigh off to be able to share your opinion. The votes are also written and tabulated by a weigh off worker. If there are any questions the slips can be brought out and publicly counted. The slip of paper has this on it:
HD Award
A)    Qualities to look for are smooth orange/orange red color.
B)    Symmetry of the fruit and freeness of sag lines and mis-shaped areas.
C)    Size - although VT does not have a minimum size most clubs use a 500-pound minimum as a guideline.
D)    In case of a tie the heaviest pumpkin wins.
Pumpkin voted for = _______________________________

11/30/2023 4:48:40 PM

Jericho Vermont

Sorry about double post.

11/30/2023 4:49:04 PM

Syracuse, NY

I have CRS, so, it helps, lol---eg

11/30/2023 8:40:38 PM

President - GPC

The GPC is monitoring.... The Howard Dill award is a very prestigious award! It should never be chosen via a crowd popularity contest with crowd applause or even voting from the crowd. . Too easy to manipulate. This has caused some turbulence in the past.

This is why the GPC put out criteria that should be the parameters followed to determine the winner, with club influence and support. It should NOT depend upon getting a larger cheering section together than other growers/fruits to determine the winner. The site should pay attention to this, so the GPC doesn't have to get involved. We will table this for discussion this Sunday AGAIN. Was there issues again this year? If so, please let the GPC rep know. Fairness of competition is within our purview.

12/1/2023 11:39:06 AM

Mission Viejo, CA

I've been to and watched the Half-Moon Bay HDA process. I don't like it. It's biased by its nature. If you have a throng of friends and family attending, you win. If you don't, you won't. It's that simple.
Elk Grove's policy of having any attendee's vote is also flawed. The average attendee simply doesn't know the guidelines.
Only growers should vote. And yes, SIZE MATTERS! I like the information on the ballot you posted John.

12/1/2023 11:45:52 AM

Western NY

Every grower that enters a pumpkin gets a vote, those votes are then tabulated.

Easiest way to do it and for the most part, growers are as close to to expert judges as you can get.

12/1/2023 1:21:55 PM

Syracuse, NY

Is this a vote to use on another grower's fruit? I may need to know for sure, lol---eg

12/1/2023 3:26:26 PM

Stanwood, Washington

Lost a Howard Dill one year to a crowd applause. Still a little bitter about that. LOL

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=282280

The Pumpkin in the background of this pic got the award.

12/1/2023 4:38:01 PM

Mission Viejo, CA

Matt, based on the photo, I would be bitter also. That is a beautiful fruit you grew.

With crowd applause, sometimes it's as simple as the order that they are presented in. First one up gets applause, second group hears it and decides to be louder.

Such a poor way to decide anything.

12/1/2023 5:44:39 PM

Brooktondale, New York

I agree with Andy, a true honor to be chosen by fellow growers

12/1/2023 6:23:51 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Crowd applause is like a loud family at a graduation. You get that screaming support group and they win the HD.

12/1/2023 7:34:54 PM

Auburn California

Not gonna be a popular response to all of the hard working Howard Dill growers that strive for this prestigious award but here I go. I know it is a huge undertaking to bring out all the characteristics together to be that perfect pumpkin but I say don't screw with tradition that has withstood 50 years of time and is as huge a crowd pleaser as Half Moon Bay pulls off yearly. Without a crowd looking on and having a sense of participation in the event what do we have? If you don't like the way a weigh off arrives at a decision for your prospective pumpkin you certainly have the right to take your pumpkin to a weigh off of your choice that does. My apologies to anyone I've offended as I am not specially a orange pumpkin grower and struggle enough just to get a pumpkin to the scale but would vote to leave it alone in California in particular, Randy

12/2/2023 12:51:56 AM

NILES , CALIF

Tradition??
I have been there with other orange growers all excited about having to bring there pumpkin, to enter the Howard Dill Contest at HMB.
Then when its time to start the applause they are told
your not in it, you can stay and watch, there in disbelief.

You call that Tradition

12/2/2023 6:27:09 AM

Jericho Vermont

I am a huge fan of getting the weigh off viewers involved in the weigh off and think it is fine to have an award that is voted on by them. BUT! I don't believe it should be the Howard Dill award as they are not informed on what to look for and do not understand the reason we have this award to honor Howard. So, have 2 awards. Crowd favorite as voted by the masses and a true Howard Dill award voted by the growers that have a pumpkin in the contest.

12/2/2023 10:05:35 AM

Auburn California

You are cooking with gas there Jonh, great idea!

12/2/2023 10:25:33 AM

Hadley Ny

what john said!!!

12/2/2023 11:21:28 AM

Eugene,OR

I still like the idea of a cage fight.

12/2/2023 12:11:08 PM

Nova Scotia

Great observations from everyone. We are very proud, honored and humbled that the GPC has this award in honor of our late father Howard Dill, thank you! And heart warming so many of you have focused on "Big 'N Orange AGs". From my very own personal experience over the years I have stood back before weigh offs amongst all the entries before being weighed and watch/listen to growers, spectators, etc look at the entries and comment on certain pumpkins that take their eye such as "Oh that's a pretty one". Then watch which ones they want their picture taken with. And 90% of the time it's a HD winner and not the biggest! I have seen so many people here at the farm over the years bypass a massive 1,500 lb pumpkin only to get their picture with an 700 plus beauty for example. And of course some years it's the "flip of a coin" trying to decide on HD winner then you go with biggest naturally. Cheers Danny

12/2/2023 1:14:04 PM

NILES , CALIF

Vt
That is a good idea
It makes the Howard Dill a special award

12/2/2023 2:29:07 PM

Syracuse, NY

Vineman - Suddenly, fewer ORANGE growers, lol...oh, no...

Start by explaining to the crowd why there is A HD award and what it means to a grower of The Great Pumpkin and whom it honors;
Growers' favorites - let's say 3 to 5.
Line them up, crowd appreciates the most by loudness AND/OR tallied votes AND/OR a 'show of hands' or a 'plate on a stick' (like at an art auction?) snapshot of crowd is taken for verification - maybe...randomly-selected onlookers (a certain # of them) upon 'entering' for some free ice cream and it is not a one-time shout-out...The winner is zeroed-in on (this one? this one?...) and it's a process of elimination, ending with audience participation, fun for all and what's a gallon of ice cream go for? Six Bucks. This would go to the 'crowd' within the crowd that voted for the winner. I have not been to a weighoff that has all this wild, mosh-pit action I'm imagining at the ones that require HD Award enforcement, butt I'm sure y'all will get it squared away by Season'24's end!
MHO- eg

12/2/2023 8:13:07 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

I may be naive but I thought there were specific rules regarding the HDA for GPC weigh offs. Non GPC weigh offs can do whatever they want. IF there are rules in place then it’s a no- brainer. Are there rules in place ?

12/2/2023 10:22:21 PM

Syracuse, NY

Andy H - I hope this answers you - page 22 on the counter of your .pdf reader:

https://gpc1.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/GPC-Rules-and-Handbook-2021-7-11-2022-Edit.pdf

I think this entire post and replies here is essentially 'working on it'.

Please stand by.
eg

12/3/2023 12:00:52 AM