Our Story

OVGPG History

1995
 Marked the first year that the OVGPG held an official GPC sanctioned weigh-off at Parks Garden Center in Canfield, OH. By starting the OVGPG, many great area growers were pulled together to organize what would become one of the best giant pumpkin clubs in the world.

1996
 It was an important year in the giant pumpkin growing world. Bill Greer (1006#) and Nathan-Paula Zehr (1061#) broke the ½-ton barrier.
 The Schlutts came down from Michigan with the 884# OVGPG champion.

1997
 Was an exciting year for many reasons: This marked the arrival of the 801.5# Stelts, which would become the major influence on giant pumpkin seed stocks as well as being a great seed itself producing several champion pumpkins. The 801.5# was also a very large fruit, but weighed light so the record of 816# held for yet another year as the state record.

1998
 Began with a very exciting start on Sept, 13th the Weeks Seed Company supported a contest hosted at Parks Garden Center where Len Stellpflug brought a 1056.5# pumpkin from New York to win the contest. This was the first 1000# fruit to be weighed in Ohio. The final season contests wrapped up with an exciting finish, the most impressive contest yet on the 1st Saturday in October with a record number of entries, and a new state record.

1999
 There was yet another state record grown, the renowned 846# grown by Fred Calai. This 846# was the most beautiful fruit grown, and the offspring would be prolific in producing champion pumpkins.

2000
 Season marked an amazing year for Ohio growers. The first 1000# and 1100# marks were eclipsed by Todd Skinner at 1109# in Barnesville. Then at Parks, a new world record pumpkin was shown by Dave Stelts at 1140#. That year, both the GPC champion pumpkin and squash were grown in Ohio.

2001
 Season turned out to be a down year for the champion weight 1053.5# grown by Dave Stelts. The redemption came in that the organization as a whole was growing, and the top 10 average was 907# with a record 123 entries.

2002
 While the champion of 2002 was Quinn Werner with his 1076.5# pumpkin, Fred Calai was the star of the show. Fred brought a 1074#, a 1056.5# and a 1049.5# fruit to display. This was the first time any person had exhibited or grown 3-1000# fruit in a single year.

2003
 In 2003 Jerry Rose brought an amazing truck load of fruit to the weigh off, a 1370# pumpkin & 1367# squash. The 1370# was a new world record for several hours till it was beaten in Oregon. The 1367.5# squash remained the world champion.

2004
 The weigh off was a great event with a new record number of entries. Quinn Werner took home the championship with his 1187.5# pumpkin. Chip Brunst of West Sunbury, PA was 2nd at 1074.5#. Steve Razo was 3rd at 1070.5# and 1st with squash, at 941.5#.

2005
 …was another record year with a record number of entries. Jerry Rose took home the championship again with his 1344# pumpkin. Quinn Werner took 2nd with his 1332# also taking the “Howard Dill Award”. Heidi Brunst took home 3rd place with her 1238.5# pumpkin. Chip Brunst took home the “True Green” award with an 877.5# squash.

2006
 Congratulations went out to Quinn Werner of Saegertown, PA, with a 1446.5# champion (4th all time in the world). Quinn also won the “Howard Dill” award for the heaviest true pumpkin and the “True Green” award for the heaviest true squash (1053.5#). Tim Parks was 2nd at 1327.5# and Dan and Jason McKie were 3rd at 1308.5#. Our top 10 average was 1208.7#. This establishes the world record for any weigh-off ever recorded. Tim Parks is inducted into the GPC “Hall of Fame”.

2007
 Congratulations to Quinn Werner of Saegertown, PA with a 1556.5# champion (5th all time in the world and the Pennsylvania state record). Dave and Carol Stelts were 2nd at 1527.5#. Steve Razo was 3rd with 1521.5#.

2008
 Congratulations to five-time winner Quinn Werner of Saegertown, PA. (1521.5#). His pumpkin was the third heaviest in 2008, missing the world championship by fifteen pounds. Quinn did claim the Giant Pumpkin Commonwealth’s “Grower of the Year” award with a combined weight of 4477.5# for his heaviest pumpkin; exhibited at three different GPC weigh-offs.
 Runner-up in the pumpkin division was Jerry Rose of Huntsburg, OH at 1446.5#. Alan Gibson of Salem, OH was third at 1260#.

2009
 Christy Harp of Massillon, OH claimed the new world record pumpkin at 1725#. Dave and Carol Stelts of Edinburg, PA exhibited the 4th largest pumpkin of all time at 1662.5# (2nd place and Pennsylvania state record). Jerry Rose of Huntsburg, OH was third at 1549#.
 Glenn Orr of North Lima, OH grew the world record Connecticut Field Pumpkin at 154.5#. Nick Harp grew the 4th largest tomato of all time (7.18#). Alan Gibson was inducted into the GPC “Hall of Fame”.

2010
 Jeff Zoellner of Clayton, Ohio was 1st pumpkin at 1663#. Quinn Werner was 2nd at 1634# and Tim Parks was 3rd at 1571#. Bill, Ted, Tim and Troy Neptune set the Ohio record with a 252# watermelon. Joe Vunak now has the Ohio Long Gourd record at 121 7/8″.
 The OVGPG won the “GPC Top 10 Award” for the 4th time in 5 years (1490.2#).

2011
 Dave and Carol Stelts exhibited the 3rd largest pumpkin of all-time @ 1807.5#. Quinn Werner was second at 1587.5#. Jim Bok was third at 1463#.
 Mark Clementz grew the world’s (2011) 3rd heaviest watermelon at 260.5#. Steve Razo exhibited the 3rd heaviest Conn. Field pumpkin at 150.5#.
 The OVGPG won the “GPC Top 10 Award” for the 5th time in 6 years (1471.95#).

2012
 Quinn Werner of Saegertown, PA was 1^st pumpkin at 1730.5#. Tim Parks was 2^nd at 1670# and Paul and Cheryl Fulk were 3^rd at 1643#. Quinn Werner set the PA and World Record with a 209# Conn. Field Pumpkin.
 Bill Neptune and Ken Buckey set the Ohio record with a 270.5# watermelon.
 Lee Zappa set the PA record with a 27″ sunflower head (diameter).
 The OVGPG set the World Record with a Top 10 Pumpkin Average of 1553.25#.

2013
 Paul and Cheryl Fulk had the champion pumpkin @ 1744.5#. Quinn Werner was 2^nd @ 1661.5#. Jerry Rose was third @ 1532#.  Our top 10 average was 1471.75# (4^th in the world). Lee Zappa set the Pennsylvania watermelon record @ 208.5#.

2014
 The Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers rewrote the record books at their October 11^th weigh-off. The club’s 20^th annual competition was held at Parks Garden Center in Canfield, Ohio.
 The club’s ten largest Atlantic Giant pumpkins averaged 1730.8 pounds for a new world record. This is the seventh time in nine years the Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers have won the Top 10 Average award. This premier weigh-off was competing with one hundred Great Pumpkin Commonwealth events around the world.
 Matt Brungard of New Middletown, Ohio had the largest pumpkin at 1951#. Finishing second was Mark Clementz of Holly, Michigan at 1947.5# (Michigan record). Third was Jerry Rose of Huntsburg, Ohio at 1844#. Larry and Gerry Checkon of North Cambria, Pennsylvania were fourth at 1821.5# (Pennsylvania record). Bill Neptune of New Concord, Ohio holds the Ohio record at 2008#.
 Jerry Rose of Huntsburg, Ohio set the Ohio record for the heaviest Jack O’ Lantern pumpkin at 167.5#.
 Mark Clementz of Holly, Michigan now has the Michigan record for longest gourd at 138.5 inches (11.5 feet).
 Lee Zappa of Sharpsville, Pennsylvania set the Pennsylvania record for a sunflower head (28 inches in diameter).
 Other world records were also set elsewhere. Beni Meier of Switzerland has the world record pumpkin at 2323.7#. Scott Holub of Oregon has the world record green squash at 1578#. Dan MacCoy of Minnesota grew the world record tomato this year at 8.41#. John MacKinnon of Nova Scotia grew the world’s largest Jack O’Lantern pumpkin at 211#.

2015
 The Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers had one of their best weigh-offs on October 10^th. The club’s 21^st annual competition was again held at Parks Garden Center in Canfield, Ohio.
 The club’s ten largest Atlantic Giant pumpkins averaged 1662#. This places us second out of over one hundred weigh-offs around the world. Hats off to Stillwater, Minnesota (1813#) who hold the world record.
 Quinn Werner of Saegertown, Pennsylvania had the largest pumpkin for the sixth time at 2020.5#. This is the new Pennsylvania state record and #12 all-time.
 Finishing second was Jim Bok of Cecil, Ohio at 1909#. Third was Matt Brungard of New Middletown, Ohio at 1775.5#.
 Joe Vunak of Middlefield, Ohio now has the Ohio record for the longest gourd at 141.25″. Al Eaton of Richmond, Ontario holds the world record for long gourds at 149.5″.
 Ron Wallace of Greene, Rhode Island is the world champion for the third time at 2230.5#.
 Congratulations to all growers who exhibited this year. Special thanks to our sponsors and all who do the work of putting on our annual weigh-off.

2016
Dear Friends-
 The Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers had one of their best weigh-offs on October 8^th. The club’s 22^nd annual competition was again held at Parks Garden Center in Canfield, Ohio.
 The club’s ten largest Atlantic Giant pumpkins averaged 1786.4#. That was good for first place out of over one hundred weigh-offs around the world. This was the second highest average ever recorded. The championship is our eighth in the past eleven years.
 Jerry Rose and his son Jerry III of Huntsburg, Ohio had the Ohio record winning pumpkin at 2058.5#. Finishing second was Quinn Werner of Saegertown, Pennsylvania at 1948.5#. Third was Lee Zappa of Sharpsville, Pennsylvania at 1805.5#.
 Matthias Willemijns of Belgium is the new world record holder with a 2624.6# pumpkin. Dick Wallace of Rhode Island has the North American record with his 2261# pumpkin.
 Scott Holub of Oregon has the green squash record at 1844.5#. Dan Sutherland of Washington has the tomato record at 8.61#.
 Congratulations to all of the growers who exhibited this year. Special thanks to our sponsors and all who do the work of putting on our annual weigh-off.
  Tim, Alan, Dale, Jerry, Frank, Quinn, Nick, Glenn and Dave

2017
 The Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers had one of their best weigh-offs on October 14th.
The club’s 23^rd annual competition was again held at Parks Garden Center in Canfield, Ohio.
 The club’s ten largest Atlantic Giant pumpkins averaged 1825# for a new world record. That was good for first place out of 110 weigh-offs around the world. The championship is our ninth in the past twelve years.
 Dave and Carol Stelts of Enon Valley had the Pennsylvania state record pumpkin at 2090.5#. Finishing second was Karl Haist of Clarence Center, New York at 2003# (New York record). Third was Don Barron of LaSalle, Michigan at 1867.5#.
 Joel Holland of Sumner, Washington set the North American record with a 2363# pumpkin at Half Moon Bay, California.
 Joe Jutras of North Scituate, Rhode Island set the world squash record at 2118#.
 Lee and Derrick Zappa of Sharpsville have the Pennsylvania record watermelon at 210.5#.
 State records for widest sunflower head were: Ohio- Jerry Rose and Jerry Rose III of Huntsburg (29”) and Pennsylvania- Derrick Zappa of Sharpsville (28.5”).
 Congratulations to all the growers who exhibited this year. Special thanks to our sponsors and all who do the work of putting on our annual weigh-off.

2018
Dear Friends-
 The Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers 24th annual weigh-off on October 13th was one to remember. Karl Haist of Clarence Center, New York weighed a beautiful 2416.5# pumpkin. This set the New York state record and is #5 all time. It is also the OVGPG site record.
 Our champion pumpkin in 1995 was 816#. This year’s champion is almost three times as heavy. Finishing second was Quinn Werner of Saegertown, Pennsylvania at 1937#. Third were Dave and Carol Stelts of Enon Valley, Pennsylvania at 1933.5#.
 Steve Geddes of Boscawen, New Hlampshire set the North American record with a 2528# (# 2 all time) pumpkin.

World records set this year were:

 Congratulations to all the growers who exhibited this year. Special thanks to our sponsors and all who do the work of putting on our annual weigh-off.
Tim, Alan, Dale, Jerry, Frank, Quinn, Nick, Glenn and Dave

2019
Dear Friends-
 The Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers weighed the world’s heaviest pumpkin grown this year. The
club’s 25^th annual weigh-off was held on October 12^th at Parks Garden Center in Canfield, Ohio.
 Karl Haist of Clarence Center, New York weighed his New York state record at 2517#. This was the
third largest pumpkin of all time. Quinn Werner of Saegertown, Pennsylvania was second (1955.5#).
John Harnica of Dundee, Michigan was third (1891#).
 John Harnica also had the heaviest watermelon (155.5#), Connecticut field pumpkin (117.5#) and
longest gourd (134.5 inches). He was named the “Grand Exhibitor” of the weigh-off.
 Jerry Rose and son of Huntsburg, Ohio had the heaviest tomato (4.5#) and the widest sunflower head
(27.5 inches).
 Jay Yohe of Export, Pennsylvania had the heaviest bushelgourd (254.5#).
 Glenna Rea of Massillon, Ohio won the “Howard Dill” award for the best looking pumpkin.
 Congratulations to all the growers who exhibited this year. Special thanks to our sponsors and all who do
the work of putting on our annual weigh-off.
Tim, Alan, Dale, Jerry, Frank, Quinn, Nick, Glenn and Dave