The Epoch Times Pumpkinmania! Article

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!

Mr. Albert Roman, the journalist for The Epoch Times that covered this year's Pumpkinmania! event e-mailed me the link to his article. It's excellent and I think captures the spirit and flavor of Pumpkinmania! in a very accurate way:

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/24459/

Happy reading!

All photos courtesy of Ty Hall

More Images from Pumpkinmania!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

These are some pictures that Ty Hall, of Kellogg Garden Products, judge, sponsor, and senior lifting crew team member e-mailed me of this year's event! They're great since Ty captured all of the growers and the prize ceremony.

Thank you very much, Ty!

The 2009 Pumpkinmania!

Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest

Winner in Repose

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

This year's 903 pound winning pumpkin, grown by Michelle Lofthouse is resting next to an oak tree in her front yard. Part of the prize money will go toward replacing a blown head gasket in the tractor can see in the background, which was damaged moving this year's winner!

Congratulations again on a great victory, Michelle!

The second grower to enter Sunday morning, John Guaydacan

Ron Hlavac of The Orange County Blacksmiths Guild takes a breather.

It wasn't hard, back-breaking work the whole time.

Pumpkinistas celebrate the spirit and fun of Pumpkinmania!

Akili Arnold

Brian Gould

Wendy Taylor

John Guaydacan

Martha Treadway

Linda Hales

Elenore Lepe

Chuck and Joan McClain

Christy Concan

Mark Imhoof

Stacey Taylor

Gary Williams & Family

Mayson Gilmore

Stuart Shim

Gracie Gilmore

Ken Smith

Allison Van Wingerden

Talia Van Wingerden

Mae Powell

Alfonso & Katharine Lepe

Walter Van Wingerden

Warner Prodan

Mike Gray

Carol Slagle

Michelle Lofthouse Recaptures The 2009 Pumpinmania!

Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest Crown with a 903 Pound Effort!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

The question on the minds of all the Pumpkinmania! grower/participants yesterday was: "Will Michelle Lofthouse be back in 2009?" The answer was a resounding yes, as Michelle Lofthouse regained the title of this year's Pumpkinmania! champion with a 903-pound effort! Carol Slagle with a 559 pounder, Mike Gray with a 517.5 pounder, Warner Prodan with a 419.5 pounder, and Walter Van Wingerden at 384.5 pounds rounded out the top five finishers.

Here are the results of the other prize categories:

Best Color: Gary Williams, 190 lbs., "Ginger"

Funniest Shape: Brian Gould, 45 lbs.

Ugliest Pumpkin: Akili Arnold, 17 lbs.

Best Shape: Mike Gray, 517.5 lbs.

Judges' Favorite: John Guaydacan, 77 lbs.

Most Experienced Grower: Mae Powell, 286.5 lbs.

Youngest Grower: Mayson Gilmore, 205.5 lbs.

Best Costume: Martha Treadway, 100.5 lbs.

The winning estimate for Guess The Weight of The Three Heaviest Pumpkins was 2,000 pounds, and the correct answer was 1.979 lbs.

The 2009 Pumkinmania! prizes and sponsors:

Gardner & Bloome of Kellogg Garden Products

First place Heaviest Pumpkin: $1,000.00

Second place Heaviest Pumpkin: $500.00

Third place Heaviest Pumpkin: $300.00

Best Color: $50.00 Gift certificate from Laguna Hills Nursery

Funniest Shape: $50.00 Gift certificate from Walter Andersen Nursery

Ugliest Pumpkin: $60.00 Gift certificate from Batavia Garden Nursery

Best Shape: $50.00 Gift certificate from Yamagami’s Nursery

Judges’ Favorite: $50.00 Gift certificate from Island View Nursery

Best Costume: $100.00 Gift certificate from Orange County Farm Supply

Most Experienced Grower: $25.00 Gift card from Starbucks, courtesy of The Epoch Times, and $25.00 Gift certificate from Cedros Gardens

Youngest Grower: $50.00 Gift certificate from Cedros Gardens

Winner of the Guess the Weight of the Three Largest Pumpkins:
$25.00 Gift certificate from Laguna Hills Nursery and $25.00 Gift certificate from Cedros Gardens

Prizes were also awarded in the following categories:

4th-12th Heaviest Pumpkins: 1 Quart Bottle of Neptune’s Harvest Fish & Seaweed Blend Organic Fertilizer, 1 Heated Seedling Mat from HydroFarm

13th-20th Heaviest Pumpkins: 1 Watering Meter from HydroFarm

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

Gardner & Bloome of Kellogg Garden Products
Crainco Crane Services
Dr. Earth
Neptune’s Harvest
HydroFarm
HB-101

U-Haul
Roadkyll Apparel Graphics
Batavia Gardens
Cedros Gardens
Island View Nursery
Laguna Hills Nursery

Orange County Farm Supply
Walter Andersen Nursey
Yamagami’s Nursery
The Epoch Times

New Tang Dynasty Television
The Orange County Blacksmiths Guild
The Heritage Museum of Orange County

GardenLive Radio

The University of California Cooperative Extension Certified Master Gardeners

We would like to recognize and thank the following individuals for their strong backs, very generous help and participation:

Ty Hall

Brian Smith

Mark Imhoof

Brian Gould

Ron Sallinger

Casey T. Shim

Jessie Chen

Lauren Shim

Phil Concan

Christy Concan

Partrick Strock

Stanley Szymczyk

Jessie Chen

Casey N.E. Shim

Greg Thiel

Milo Shammas

Nobo Azuma

Ron Kanemoto

Carolyn Villa-Scott

Chris Roy

Mia McCarville

David Ross

Katie Sorensen

Ron Hamada

Gary Matsuoka

Sharon Asakawa

John Bagnasco

Adam England

Alice Su

Albert Roman

Sharon Stolen