Rise of the Giants-Documentary on Giant Pumpkins and Growers Orange County Premier November 29th, Tanaka Farms

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

LA-based film maker, Daria Matza, has just released a documentary about giant pumpkins and giant pumpkin growers called "Rise of the Giants".

I am pleased to announce that the Orange County premier of "Rise of the Giants" will be Saturday, November 29th, 2014, 4:30 p.m., at Tanaka Farms, 5380 University Drive, Irvine, CA 92612, www.tanakafarms.com. Admission will be $5.00 for adults, and children 16 and under are FREE. There will be some surprises for the audience and you're invited!

Here are some links to the movie's trailer, and other related information: 

www.riseofthegiantsmovie.com

vimeo.com/user5598573/videos

See you there!

The 2014 Pumpkinmania! Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest Results and Images!

(All photos by Stuart Shim unless noted otherwise.)

It was easy to spot where the weigh-off was located at Tanaka Farms

Banners hung in the weigh-off area

Mark Imhoof, Chief Technology Officer shows off his weighing sling for smaller entries



Chris Dunn, 2013 Pumpkinmania! Champion, arrived early to help

and to register his son, Kingston's, 2014 entry.



Glenn Tanaka, owner of Tanaka Farms, shows off his forklift skills



Mike Gray prepares his and his wife's Susan's 2014 entry for unloading

Michelle Shim shows off this year's T-shirt design.

 Photo by Rocky Doke

Photo by Rocky Doke

What if you build it and no one enters?



The Gallery of Girth!

Joshua Fredricks, 35 pounds, Youngest Grower

(Note the special sling!)

 Linda Hales, 95 pounds

Joseph Schaefer, 239.5 pounds, Ugliest Pumpkin

(Joseph works at Tanaka Farms. Since his boss was operating the forklift,

he intelligently decided to work his normal shift.)



Mae Powell, 256.5 pounds, Most Experienced Grower

 Perri Williams, 299.5 (let's call it 300) pounds

Mike Gray, 345.5 pounds, Funniest Shape

  

Kevin Donahue, 361 pounds

  Pat Mahoney, 490 pounds

Tom Rogers, 646 pounds, Best Color & Third Place

Kingston Dunn, 649.5 pounds, First to Register & Second Place

Jim Fredricks, 810 pounds, The 2014 Pumpkinmania!

Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest Champion!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

Yesterday morning's cool weather almost helped keep the temperature of this year's heated competition in check! After a brutal season that kept many growers at home, the stalwart faithful and lucky contestants dutifully made the pilgrimmage to Tanaka Farms to compete for glory, honor and $1,800 in cash prizes, and products and gift certificates.

In the end, Jim Fredricks of Santee, CA, last year's 2nd place finisher, and a previous Pumpkinmania Champion, regained the crowd and title of the biggest and baddest grower in the patch and $1,000.00 with his 810 pound entry.

Kingston Dunn, 6, of Lomita, squeaked by Tom Rogers of Mission Viejo with his 649.5 pounder to Tom's 646 pound entry, for second place. A surprised and gracious Tom, took third place and also Best Color.

All other participants received Neptune's Harvest fertilizer and highly sought caps, and Jiffy's seed germination kits.

Other winners included:

Funniest Shape, Mike and Susan Gray, Baldwin Park

Ugliest Pumpkin, Joseph Schaefer, Huntington Beach

Youngest Grower, Joshua Fredricks, 3, Santee

Most Experienced Grower, Mae Powell, Pasadena

For the Orange County Register article: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/giant-639932-pumpkin-grower.html

The management of Pumpkinmania! would like to recognize the following individuals and organizations for their support, understanding and hard work:

Tanaka Farms, Irvine, CA

Gardner & Bloome division of Kellogg Garden Products

The University of California Master Gardeners of Orange County

Philippe's The Original, Los Angeles, CA

Roadkyll Graphics and Screenprinting, Santa Ana, CA

Orange County Farm Supply, Orange, CA

Sheridan Gardens, Burbank, CA

Blue Hills Nursery, Whittier, CA

Batavia Gardens, Orange, CA

Farm Supply Co., San Luis Obispo, CA

U-Haul International, Phoenix, AZ

GreenCure, Inc., Conklin, NY

Neptune's Harvest, Gloucester, MA

Beaver Plastics, Alberta, Canada
The Orange County Register, Santa Ana, CA

Glenn Tanaka

Ken Tanaka

Ty Hall

Mark Imhoof

Phil Concan

Chris Dunn

Casey T. Shim

Casey Shim

Lauren Shim

Michelle Shim

Thank you very much!



The 2014 Pumpkinmania! Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest Details and Rules

Official design for the 2014 Pumpkinmania! Giant pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest

Courtesy and compliments of Roadkyll Graphics
(To pre-order your Official 2014 Pumpkinmania T-shirt for $10.00,
please e-mail Phil Concan at: jtull1@prodigy.net)

It's this Sunday!

What: The 2014 Pumpkinmania! Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest

Day/Date/Time: Sunday, October 26, 2014, 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

(Entry registration from 8:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m., weigh-off will begin at 11:30 a.m.)

Where: Tanaka Farms, 5380 University Drive, Irvine, CA 92612, www.tanakafarms.com for directions/details.

Growers from all over Southern California and beyond will vie for $1,800.00 in cash and prizes including: Biggest Pumpkin, Best Color, Funniest Shape, Ugliest, Youngest, and Most Seasoned Grower and more.

Also, Mae Powell, perennial winner of Most Experienced Grower, veteran giant pumpkin cultivator, and media darling, will be promoting and signing her new book "Maezie's Pumpkin Patch" at this year's event!

 

For more information, please visit: www.maeziespumpkinpatch.com

Here are The Rules:

Contest Rules & Regulations

1. This is an open competition to all growers in any part of the world.

2. The pumpkin must be grown by the grower and in the country where the grower resides.

3. A grower may enter only one pumpkin, and no family may enter more than two entries.

4. Entries will be received between 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. on the day of competition.

5. Entries must be sound, healthy, and undamaged. This means free of rot, holes or cracks through to the seed cavity, chemical residue, soil should be wiped off, and no soft spots.

6. No foreign material is to be included in the weighing. Vine must be trimmed within 1.0” from the stem of the fruit. Judges reserve the right to fully inspect each pumpkin before the weight is announced and official. Refusal to allow inspection of a pumpkin will result in its disqualification and a potential ban for life from future Pumpkinmania! competitions.

7. Any pumpkin previously entered in or weighed at any other competition prior to the contest will be deemed ineligible.

8. In the event of a tie, prize(s) will be combined and split equally among entrants.

9. Decision of the judges will be final in all cases.

10. Contest sponsors and staff shall not be liable for compensation for loss, damage, and/or death to any pumpkins, contestants, their families and friends, or personal property. All entrants completely and totally indemnify the sponsors and organizers of the weigh-off and contest.

Additional details: 

Please visit, http://www.pumpkinmania.blogspot.com/, or e-mail: sbs33@cornell.edu and interpac007@yahoo.com, media inquiries please call: (949) 683-5932.

Ashley & Anthony's 2014 Season

Ashley & Anthony's 2014 Season!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

In the pre and post Orange County Fair onion competition, I completely failed in getting this post and pictures up! Ashley and Anthony are growers in Dana Point that not only attended the workshop at Tanaka Farms, but also sought out extra seeds and seedlings to help out some children.

As you can see, Ashley is a photographer in addition to bein an avid gardener.

Here's their update from July 11th:

"Hi Stuart! I hope you and your family (and plants) are doing well! I got around to sending some pics today, the pumpkin seems to be doing well, it is about 22 inches across and 14 inches high currently. I can't lift it anymore as we were making small location adjustments. Growing at a consistent rate, I hope we keep going at this rate!! I have current pics and a few from earlier as well!
Ashley and Anthony"

Nice job!