PREPARING FOR THE WEIGH OFF
Giant Pumpkins - Your pumpkin must be placed on a pallet and loaded in such a way that it can be easily unloaded with a forklift. Remove any powders, fungicides, caulking, or other materials that are on the pumpkin. DO NOT apply any wax or oil to make it shine. This makes it slippery and is not allowed under the GPC rules. You can trim the vine to within an inch of the stem, but that can also be done by the judges if you are unsure.
Tomato - The fruit must be free of dirt and it must be sound with no large, oozing cracks or rotten areas. The stem must be trimmed to one inch.
Field Pumpkin (Jack-o-lantern type), Watermelon, Marrow, Cantaloupe, Bushel Gourd, and Pear Gourd - Must be free of dirt or other substances on the fruit. Do not trim the stem. Vine can be pruned within one inch of the stem. Depending on size it will help to supply a small tarp or blanket to unload and weigh. Large Wagons are also useful to move the bigger fruit around.
Carrot, Parsnip, Beet, Radish - Wash all the dirt off the roots being careful not to break off any roots. All the roots count towards the weight, even the small hair roots. Trim the greens off the top as close to the shoulder as possible.
Rutabaga - Wash all the dirt off the roots being careful not to break off any roots. All the roots count towards the weight, even the small hair roots. Trim the leaves and any green stems off. If you are unsure where to stop trimming then just trim the leaves off and the judges will trim the remainder off so all roots are trimmed to the same degree.
Onion - Carefully wash off any dirt. Small roots at the bottom of the onion must be removed and the stem trimmed at or below the first green leaf joint.
Giant Squash - same prep as Giant Pumpkin. Is it really a squash? According to GPC rules if it is all green, grey, or blue or a combination of those it is classed as a squash. If there is orange or cream mott-ling or blotches on the fruit then it is classed as a Pumpkin. If you are unsure check with a judge before the competition starts to avoid disqualification.
Kohlrabi - Remove the roots and leaves as close as possible to the bulb. Wash off any dirt.
Cabbage - Carefully harvest and bring the entire plant. DO NOT trim the outer leaves. Cut the stem to within two inches of the bottom leaf. Gently placing it on a tarp or blanket will ensure the fewest leaves broken off during transport. Leaves that break off will not be allowed on the scale.
Tomato - The fruit must be free of dirt and it must be sound with no large, oozing cracks or rotten areas. The stem must be trimmed to one inch.
Field Pumpkin (Jack-o-lantern type), Watermelon, Marrow, Cantaloupe, Bushel Gourd, and Pear Gourd - Must be free of dirt or other substances on the fruit. Do not trim the stem. Vine can be pruned within one inch of the stem. Depending on size it will help to supply a small tarp or blanket to unload and weigh. Large Wagons are also useful to move the bigger fruit around.
Carrot, Parsnip, Beet, Radish - Wash all the dirt off the roots being careful not to break off any roots. All the roots count towards the weight, even the small hair roots. Trim the greens off the top as close to the shoulder as possible.
Rutabaga - Wash all the dirt off the roots being careful not to break off any roots. All the roots count towards the weight, even the small hair roots. Trim the leaves and any green stems off. If you are unsure where to stop trimming then just trim the leaves off and the judges will trim the remainder off so all roots are trimmed to the same degree.
Onion - Carefully wash off any dirt. Small roots at the bottom of the onion must be removed and the stem trimmed at or below the first green leaf joint.
Giant Squash - same prep as Giant Pumpkin. Is it really a squash? According to GPC rules if it is all green, grey, or blue or a combination of those it is classed as a squash. If there is orange or cream mott-ling or blotches on the fruit then it is classed as a Pumpkin. If you are unsure check with a judge before the competition starts to avoid disqualification.
Kohlrabi - Remove the roots and leaves as close as possible to the bulb. Wash off any dirt.
Cabbage - Carefully harvest and bring the entire plant. DO NOT trim the outer leaves. Cut the stem to within two inches of the bottom leaf. Gently placing it on a tarp or blanket will ensure the fewest leaves broken off during transport. Leaves that break off will not be allowed on the scale.
GIANT PUMPKIN WEIGH OFF RULES
1. Judging will take place Thursday, October 10th at 7PM in the main show barn. Enter grounds from Centre Street.
2. Unloading and registration starts at 5PM, no entries allowed after 7PM. All pumpkins must be loaded on a pallet and situated in such a way to allow a forklift to easily unload on site.
3. One pumpkin per exhibitor.
4. A $30 registration fee per competitor allows entry into the Giant Pumpkin and Giant Vegetable classes.
5. GPC (Great Pumpkin Commonwealth) rules and judging will be followed. Complete rules can be found at www.greatpumpkincommonwealth.com
6. The winning pumpkin MUST be left at the fair for display or prize money will be forfeited. We will keep the next 5 largest pumpkins that growers are willing to leave for display on the wagon. All other pumpkins MUST be loaded and taken home that night. Pumpkins can be picked up on Monday, October 8th between 5PM & 6PM unless other arrangements have been made. There will be a secure, roped-off area provided for displaying the pumpkins.
GIANT VEGETABLE WEIGH OFF RULES
1. Rules 1, 2,4, and 5 of the Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off apply (weighing of these classes will start at 6PM)
2. AGAIN THIS YEAR there will be FIVE separate classes. 1. Field Pumpkin, 2. Tomato, 3. Long Gourd, 4. Squash, and 5. Bushel Gourd. (each with it’s own prize money for 1st to 3rd). Entries must not have been judged at a previous event - no re-weighs.
3. Field Pumpkin, Tomato, Squash, and Bushel Gourd will be judged by weight, Long Gourd will be judged by length.
4. Judging rules for vegetables not covered by the GPC will follow the rules for judging from the EGVGA (European Giant Vegetable Growers Association) www.egvga.eu
5. The grower is responsible for unloading, getting the entry to the scale, and loading of all vegetables in the Giant Vegetable Weigh Off (not Giant Pumpkins or Squash). Please bring any items you require to help out as best you can, such as a wagon, tarp, blanket, extra help, etc.
1. Judging will take place Thursday, October 10th at 7PM in the main show barn. Enter grounds from Centre Street.
2. Unloading and registration starts at 5PM, no entries allowed after 7PM. All pumpkins must be loaded on a pallet and situated in such a way to allow a forklift to easily unload on site.
3. One pumpkin per exhibitor.
4. A $30 registration fee per competitor allows entry into the Giant Pumpkin and Giant Vegetable classes.
5. GPC (Great Pumpkin Commonwealth) rules and judging will be followed. Complete rules can be found at www.greatpumpkincommonwealth.com
6. The winning pumpkin MUST be left at the fair for display or prize money will be forfeited. We will keep the next 5 largest pumpkins that growers are willing to leave for display on the wagon. All other pumpkins MUST be loaded and taken home that night. Pumpkins can be picked up on Monday, October 8th between 5PM & 6PM unless other arrangements have been made. There will be a secure, roped-off area provided for displaying the pumpkins.
GIANT VEGETABLE WEIGH OFF RULES
1. Rules 1, 2,4, and 5 of the Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off apply (weighing of these classes will start at 6PM)
2. AGAIN THIS YEAR there will be FIVE separate classes. 1. Field Pumpkin, 2. Tomato, 3. Long Gourd, 4. Squash, and 5. Bushel Gourd. (each with it’s own prize money for 1st to 3rd). Entries must not have been judged at a previous event - no re-weighs.
3. Field Pumpkin, Tomato, Squash, and Bushel Gourd will be judged by weight, Long Gourd will be judged by length.
4. Judging rules for vegetables not covered by the GPC will follow the rules for judging from the EGVGA (European Giant Vegetable Growers Association) www.egvga.eu
5. The grower is responsible for unloading, getting the entry to the scale, and loading of all vegetables in the Giant Vegetable Weigh Off (not Giant Pumpkins or Squash). Please bring any items you require to help out as best you can, such as a wagon, tarp, blanket, extra help, etc.