Some of the many pumpkins for sale and on display at Peltzer Farms!

Stanley Szymczyk (L.) and Casey Shim (R.) prepare to register growers
and their entries.

Lauren Shim (L.) Christy Concan (M.) and Michelle Shim (R.) selling shirts. 

 Michelle Shim warms up the tractor before the entries start arriving.

 Peltzer Farms' office

 Entries began arriving at 9:30 a.m..

 Mike Gray prepares 'Tiberius' to be unloaded.

 Mark Imhoof directs unloading 'Tiberius'.

That's Charlie Peltzer of Peltzer Farms at the wheel of the forklift!

Next to arrive, 'Jack' grown by John Sach!

John Sach removes a brace that held 'Jack's pallet from sliding back and forth.

This year's weigh-off was dominated by many pale entries.

'Gourdzilla' grown by Vince George is placed carefully on the ground.

Jim Fredricks' entry, 'Joshua' draws a collective gasp from the crowd!

The world press was on hand to capture this moment in history.

Diane McFadden, 'Over 21', 9.5 pounds

Linda Hales, 'Fran', 69 pounds

Wendy Taylor, 'Signe', 102.5 pounds

Tom Stephen, 'Jr.', 159 pounds

Michelle Shim, 'Chicken', 185 pounds

(Because of an unplanned nap, her Uncle Casey, is pictured above.)

Stacey Taylor, 'Alaska', 205 pounds

John Allen, 'Last Hope', 209 pounds

Stuart Shim, 'Hope', 257 pounds

Mae Powell, 'Rocky', 298 pounds

Vince George, 'Gourdzilla', 658 pounds

Mike and Susan Gray, 'Tiberius', 678 pounds

John Sach, 'Jack', 829 pounds

Jim Fredricks, 'Joshua', 980 pounds, Winner!

The 2011 Pumpkinmania!

Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest Final Results!

Good afternoon, Growers!

The 2011 Pumpkinmania! Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest was held Sunday, October 23, 2011 at Peltzer Farms in Temecula, CA. The weather was sunny and clear for the event which drew growers from all over Southern California to compete for $1,800.00 in cash, prizes, gift certificates, products from sponsors, and, of course, giant pumpkin cultivation history!

This year's field of entries was unique because of the number of pale colored pumpkins. In spite of a few unexpected venue changes, many loyal pumpkin growers participated in this year's event.

Here are the results of this year's competition:

Cash prizes courtesy of and donated by, Gardner & Bloome of Kellogg Garden Products!

First place, $1,000.00, Jim Fredricks, 'Joshua', 980 pounds, Santee, CA

Second place, $500.00, John Sach, 'Jack', 829 pounds, Whittier, CA

Third place, $300.00, Mike and Susan Gray, 'Tiberius', 678 pounds, Baldwin Park, CA

Fourth place, Vince George, 'Gourdzilla', 658 pounds, Santee, CA

Fifth place, Mae Powell, 'Rocky', 298 pounds, Pasadena, CA

Sixth place, Stuart Shim, 'Hope', 257 pounds, Huntington Beach, CA

Seventh place, John Allen, 'Last Hope', 209 pounds, Corona, CA

Eighth place, Stacey Taylor, 'Alaska', 205 pounds, Laguna Niguel, CA

Ninth place, Michelle Shim, 'Chicken', 185 pounds, Huntington Beach, CA

Tenth place, Tom Stephen, 'Jr.', 159 pounds, Ramona, CA

Eleventh place, Wendy Taylor, 'Signe', 102.5 pounds, Laguna Niguel, CA

Twelfth place, Linda Hales, 'Fran', 69 pounds, Huntington Beach, CA

Thirteenth place, Diane McFadden, 'Over 21', 9.5 pounds, Lake Forest, CA

Best Color-$50.00 gift certificate from Island View Nursery, Diane Mc Fadden

Funniest Shape-$25.00 gift certificate from Orange County Farm Supply, John Sach

Ugliest Pumpkin-$25.00 gift certificate from Batavia Garden Nursery,Tom Stephen

Youngest Grower-$25.00 gift certificate from Batavia Garden Nursery, Jim Fredricks

Most Experienced Grower-$25.00 gift certificate from Batavia Garden Nursery, Mae Powell

The Saddest Example Set for Young Pumpkin Growers/Your Offspring Award-Or, The Mother That Bought Pumpkins at Peltzer Farms For Her Two Children and Tried To Enter Them Into the Weigh-off After 11:45 a.m.. Then, When Informed by The Organizer, That They Were Too Late To Enter, Tried to Go Over the Head of The Organizer and Convince Casey Shim, The Organizer's Father, That They Should be Allowed To Compete. (To her children's credit, they looked embarassed and looked away when all of this was happening.) Your prize is a lifetime ban from competing in any pumpkin competition in North America. You have been Orange and Black-listed.

We would like to thank the following companies for their generous support and participation:

Gardner & Bloome of Kellogg Garden Products


Neptune’s Harvest Liquid Organic Fertilizers


HydroFarm


Roadkyll Apparel Graphics


Batavia Garden


GreenCure Organic Fungicide


Island View Nursery


Orange County Farm Supply

Peltzer Farms


U-Haul


Beaver Plastics


Island View Nursery

University of California Cooperative Extension, Orange County, Master Gardeners


Without the following individuals support, help, input, time, humor, intelligence and effort there would be no Pumpkinmania! Thank you very, very, very much!:
 
Mark Imhoof
Phil & Christy Concan
Ty Hall
Casey N.E. Shim (Thanks for letting me use the backyard!)
Casey T. Shim
Lauren D. Shim
Stanley Szymczyk
Charlie Peltzer
Michelle R. Shim
Janis Parkinson
Charles Arnold
Greg Thiel
Ron Hamada
Chris Roy
Katie Sorensen