Pumped Up Pumpkins In Altoona
By: Aaron Cheslock
Updated: October 7, 2012
Is there such a thing as extreme gardening? If there is, in Altoona, this is it.
Folks from all over gathered at the Sam's Club parking lot in Altoona Saturday morning for the Annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off. Pennsylvania's Giant Pumpkin Growers Association has been doing it for about 25 years now. There were two world records set in Altoona this year, one of them for the longest Long Gourd at 138 inches. Giant pumpkin weigh offs are happening all across the country, and Marvin Meisner, one of Altoona's Site Coordinators says there's a lot of work that goes into growing the pumpkins.
"A lot of people think that people who grow giant vegetables, that there's something wrong with them. I agree, I agree. These guys grow these pumpkins, they're working 30-40 hours a week out in the garden taking care of these..."
The world record a decade ago was 1,000 pounds, a recent weigh in touted a 2,000 pound pumpkin.
Saturday's biggest pumpkin in Altoona belonged to Larry and Gerry Checkon, who's pumpkin weighed in at 1,365 pounds. The biggest loser? The guy who came in 2nd place. Charles Haist, who's pumpkin came in at 1,364 pounds.
