Kentucky State Fair’s largest pumpkin beats last year’s by nearly 500 pounds
WITH SOME BLUE RIBBON WINNERS. ALEX, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT? ALEX: MASSIVE PUMPKINS. THEY’RE SO BIG THAT THEY HAVE TO PUT SIGNS OUT THAT SAY DO NOT CLIMB ON THE PUMPKIN. IMAGINE A PUMPKIN YOU CAN CLIMB ON. THESE ARE HUGE BUT NOT THE BIGGEST. THIS IS A 1,045.5 POUNDS. YOU’VE GOT TO TELL ME, WHAT IS THE SECRET TO GROWING A PUMPKIN LIKE THIS? >> THE BIGOTS SECRET, NOT — THE BIGGEST SECRET, NOT SO MUCH A SECRET BUT HAVING GOOD SOIL, GOOD SEED, HOPEFULLY THE WEATHER IS GOOD AND A LOT OF FERTILIZER. >> THERE’S SOMETHING YOU WEAR ON YOUR FEET THAT YOU THINK AFFECTS PUMPKIN GROWING? >> YOU’VE GOT TO WEAR CROCS. >> YOU’VE GOT TO WEAR CROCS, HAVE GOOD SOIL, GOOD WEATHER, ALL THAT. OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT THIS WEIGHT AND BE LIKE THERE’S NO WAY I CAN DO THAT. BUT I’M SURE THEY DON’T REALIZE THE HARD WORK THAT GOES INTO THIS. EXPLAIN IS TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES. >> A LOT OF PREPARATION IN THE FALL. THEN YOU START GETTING YOUR SOIL READY AND IN THE SPRING YOU ALSO ARE FINE-TUNING YOUR SOIL. YOU’VE GOT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEATHER AND MAKE SURE YOU GET EVERYTHING PLANTED AT THE RIGHT TIME. WHEN THE PLANTS GO IN THE GROUND, ARE THEY’RE STARTED IN THE HOUSE FROM SEED AND TRANSPLANTED ABOUT FOUR WEEKS LATER. IT’S WIDE OPEN FROM THERE. THEY DON’T SLOW DOWN. THEY GROW VERY FAST AND YOU’VE GOT TO STAY ON TOP OF THEM ALL THE TIME. >> YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE LINEAGE OF THE PUMPKINS? >> I’M PRETTY CAREFUL ABOUT PICKING MY SEED. OBVIOUSLY I LIKE AN ORANGE PUMPKIN. NOT ALL OF THEM ARE ORANGE. SOME ARE WHITE. THEY EVEN HAVE GREEN SQUASH COLORED PUMPKINS. I ALSO WANT A HEAVY ORANGE PUMPKIN AND THAT’S SOMETIMES HARD TO FIND. >> NICK IS FROM HANCOCK COUNTY. THIS IS HIS PUMPKIN, THE LARGEST AT THE STATE COUNTY FAIR. IT IS MASSIVE. THIS IS MY HAND, AND LOOK. ISN’T THAT CRAZY. THIS STUFF IS INTRESSIV
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Kentucky State Fair’s largest pumpkin beats last year’s by nearly 500 pounds
One of the Kentucky State Fair’s biggest competitions has named its winners.The bragging rights were handed out for the largest pumpkin and watermelon at the fair this weekend.This year’s largest pumpkin weighed in at over 1,621 pounds. It was grown by Josh Monin.Monin said it took 64 days for it to grow.That beat last year’s winning pumpkin by 488 pounds and the 2023 winner by 351 pounds.The winning watermelon was 258.4 pounds, 25 pounds heavier than last year’s winner. It was grown by Nick McCaslin.State fair visitors can see the massive gourd and melon in the West Wing Exhibit Halls. Check out a guide to the Kentucky State Fair here. Fair officials say this is a highly anticipated event each year.
One of the Kentucky State Fair’s biggest competitions has named its winners.
The bragging rights were handed out for the largest pumpkin and watermelon at the fair this weekend.
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This year’s largest pumpkin weighed in at over 1,621 pounds. It was grown by Josh Monin.
Monin said it took 64 days for it to grow.
That beat last year’s winning pumpkin by 488 pounds and the 2023 winner by 351 pounds.
The winning watermelon was 258.4 pounds, 25 pounds heavier than last year’s winner. It was grown by Nick McCaslin.
State fair visitors can see the massive gourd and melon in the West Wing Exhibit Halls.
Check out a guide to the Kentucky State Fair here.
Fair officials say this is a highly anticipated event each year.
