Our 14th Annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off is now in the books!
This year’s weigh-off featured growers from Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Utah, and all over the Colorado region. The competition featured dozens of entries from several different categories including pumpkins, watermelons, tomatoes, squash, and sunflowers. The day’s top prize went to Fort Collins grower Brad Bledsoe for his 1,729 lb. giant, which was a Fort Collins Nursery site record! Calvin Wohlert set a new Colorado state record with his 198 lb. watermelon and Dustin Grubbs took home a new Nebraska state record with his 95.5” long gourd!
Here is a list of this year’s winners.
Heaviest Pumpkin
- 1st Place- Brad Bledsoe (1,729.6 lbs)
- 2nd Place- Harold Stinchcomb (1,625.1 lbs)
- 3rd Place- Chad New (1,564.2 lbs)
- 4th Place- Joe Scherber (1,152.8 lbs)
- 5th Place- Jim “The Biz” Grande (1,122.8 lbs)
- 6th Place- Jay Richard (1,069.4 lbs)
- 7th Place- Jacob Marintzer (1,051.3 lbs)
- 8th Place – Dustin Grubbs (998 lbs)
- 9th Place – Patrick Wensman (615.2 lbs)
- 10th Place – Thaddaeus Christensen (602 lbs)
- 11th Place – Teresa Rodriguez (535.8 lbs)
- 12th Place – Charlie Nystrom (513.3 lbs)
- 13th Place – Jake Zimmer (425.10 lbs)
- 14th Place – Gary Shenfish (232 lbs)
- 15th Place – Jim Buttridge / Dee Dee Right (57 lbs)
Heaviest Watermelon
- 1st Place – Calvin Wohlert (198 lbs) *New Colorado State Record
- 2nd Place – Todd Christensen (192 lbs)
- 3rd Place – Ralph Laub (125 lbs)
- 4th Place – Sue Johnson (71 lbs)
Howard Dill (Prettiest Pumpkin)
- 1st Place- Jacob Marintzer
Heaviest Squash
- 1st Place- Jim Buttridge / Dee Dee Right (57 lbs)
Heaviest Tomato
- 1st Place – Calvin Wohlert (2.76 lbs)
- 2nd Place – John Quade (1.93 lbs)
- 3rd Place – Jason Serna (1.88 lbs)
- 4th Place – Jim Grande (1.85 lbs)
- 5th Place – Scott Luers (1.76 lbs)
- 6th Place – Ralph Laub (.94 lbs)
Bushel Gourd
- 1st Place- Calvin Wohlert (98 lbs)
- 2nd Place – Dustin / Bridgett Grubbs (51 lbs)
Long Gourd
- 1st Place- Dustin Grubbs (95.5″) *New Nebraska State Record
Field Pumpkin
- 1st Place- Dustin Grubbs (43 lbs)
Kids Division Heaviest Pumpkin
- 1st Place – Kade Marintzer (304.3 lbs)
- 2nd Place – Carolyn Speshock / Zach & Olivia Thayer (265.5 lbs)
- 3rd Place – Phoebe Marintzer (182.1 lbs)
- 4th Place – Elsie Martinez (151.7 lbs)
- 5th Place – Carolyn Speshock / Ben Thayer (147 lbs)
- 6th Place – Samuel Reynolds (136 lbs)
- 7th Place – Kellen & Corin Covalt (92 lbs)
- 8th Place – Julieta Martinez (81 lbs)
- 9th Place – Avery & Grayson Martine (24 lbs)
- 10th Place – Paulina Martinez (57 lbs)
- 11th Place – Carter Verhulst (29 lbs)
2022 Sponsors & Affiliates
Originally published on October 10th, 2022. Updated on October 19th, 2023.