The big day has finally arrived at the Topsfield Fair, time for the pumpkin and squash judging contest. This is the first time critters have had their own contest, so, we had entries from around country. To build up suspense competitors had to deliver their prize pumpkin or squash one by one to the exhibit hall and were not allowed to see what the other competitors brought in.
Tomato Bob from the Woodpile remains super confident. His pumpkin was so big, we almost exceeded the legal weight limit of the dump truck we used to bring it to the fair. He had used his special compost tea to fertilize it.
All the competitors got together for coffee and sunflower seed pancakes the morning of the judging. It was interesting to hear all the different approaches to growing giant pumpkins and squash. Some brought soil scientists in to find the most nutrient rich soil on their farm, some mixed their own chemical fertilizer blends, others installed special irrigation systems with moisture sensors, 1000 watt grow lights at night, and so forth. I didn’t realize how serious critters could be about this contest.
The conversation really got interesting with all the “fish stories” they started telling each other about how they got their entries to the fair. We heard about construction cranes being brought in to lift them out of the growing patch, tractor trailers with “oversized load” signs, having to plan travel routes to avoid low bridge clearances, and the list goes on. I give them an A+ for creative with their travel stories.
The judge announced there were 300 pumpkin entries and only two entries for squash. That seemed a bit lopsided. I asked Tomato Bob about that. He said “Think about it, what has every young critter and their parents watched each Halloween – the Charlie Brown Great Pumpkin special on TV.”
The judge and her crew spent all night weighing pumpkins to narrow the field down to the top three heaviest. She was just about to unveil the three finalists. A fair wide announced was made about the impending “big reveal” over the public address system. There was a scramble by spectators to find the optimum viewing spot.
The prime viewing spots were all grabbed within a matter of seconds.
All eyes were focused on the pumpkin judging stand.
You could sense the anticipation and excitement in the audience.
The curtain was dropped to reveal the finalists and there was a collective gasp of surprise from the audience. No one expected pumpkins this big.
After the “big reveal,” the judge announced they were going to start with the squash contest first. The event organizers really know how to build up the suspense and tension in the air.
The squash was being judged both on weight and quality.
The judge took a long time to evaluate both entries.
So long she had to stop for a snack break in the
middle!!
Finally back to the pumpkin contest. This looks promising the judge is taking a close look at Tomato Bob’s entry.
Well this is highly unusual. One of the contestants is on the judging platform and doesn’t look very happy. Wait, he is removing his pumpkin. They just made an announcment, this entry has been disqualified! The contestant was caught trying to bribe the judge.
The judge announces the first place winner, a pumpkin from Ohio.
Poor Tomato Bob looks on in shock and disbelief by the sheer size of the winner. It is almost double the size of his pumpkin (on the right) which took second place. Tomato Bob recovered quickly and started chatting up the winner to learn all his secrets to success. Turns out Ohio has some of the richest farm land in the country. Tomato Bob hopped on the internet and found a place selling rich Ohio soil by the truck load and was willing to deliver to his pumpkin patch at the Woodpile. This aught to be a really competitive contest next year.
The soap opera drama isn’t over yet. What is our disqualified contestant up to now?
The audience burst into giggles and laughter as our disqualified contestant tried to hide the first prize ribbon with his tail.
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