Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 25 Entries. Friday, February 13 View Page 67 days until seed starting day on 4-20. Nice.   Friday, February 13 View Page Won't be too long til it turns.....green is a good color   Friday, February 13 View Page Like this   Saturday, February 14 View Page One more try   Wednesday, April 1 View Page Game on! Cables go in tonight. 8 inches removed and stockpile on plywood makes the backfilling easier. The base of planting spots will be fractured another 14" with a deepspader prior to cable placement and backfilling. Exciting time of year after a brutal winter.   Thursday, October 8 View Page Well I tried shutting up this year with my diary and try to concentrate on growing. Lol. It didn't help much but can't omplain in a whackey wwather year here. A foot of rain in June didnt help the soil community much. I had to dig a drainage ditch where my 2323 plant's main vine and move the main over 5' just to have a chance on getting a pumpkin on the plant. My 1985 Miller doubled up, my 2032 spit up the base early on. So I had to go with 1676.5 and 2002 Hawkkley in those spots. Still all 3 spots produced a pumpkin to scale.   Thursday, October 8 View Page 1,111 Shenoha 2015 (2323 x self) 9% heavy. Nice shape and grwat plant.   Thursday, October 8 View Page 1111   Thursday, October 8 View Page 1086.5 Shenoha 2015 (1676.5 Daletas x 2323 Meijer) 8% heavy.   Thursday, October 8 View Page 942.5 Shenoha 2015 (2002 Hawkley x 2323) 6% light   Thursday, October 8 View Page Henry the "Baitman" hard at work slinging pumpkins to the scale   Thursday, October 8 View Page Oops...here is the pic   Thursday, October 8 View Page Big shout out to Henry and his new personal best 880.5 lb pumpkin. Henry has been the spark plug of energy the IGPGA needed to bring us to bigger and better things. Thanks Henry and congrats on your beauty!!!!   Thursday, October 8 View Page Jerry Bandura from Elwood with his 800 something pounder and Howard Dill winner off my 1546 Shenoha 2013   Thursday, October 8 View Page Congrats to new Illinois grower Kyle Davis with an impressive 928.5 pounder grown and great people.... i have a feeling he will be doing some monster things soon in upcoming years.....congrats Kyle!!!!   Thursday, October 8 View Page And number one shout out goes to Georgie Janowiak and his wife and daughters for running the show year in and year. Georgie had a tough year but still showed the Presidential enthusiam and organization as always....Some of the best people I have ever had the privilege to know.   Thursday, October 8 View Page Great pic of what this hobby is all about   Thursday, October 8 View Page 1086.5 Shenoha 2015....with 1676.5 old school genetics that still produced 2059 for Steve Delatas this year x new school 2323 genetics and going 8 percent heavy x pollinating plant producing 9% heavy means this cross has some nice potential   Thursday, October 8 View Page Post weigh off picture at Bobbys Tap with my crazy buddy Flan who is the MCEE.....very fun day!!!!!   Thursday, October 8 View Page Loading day pics   Thursday, October 8 View Page 1086.5   Thursday, October 8 View Page Touch down...all 3 safely loaded   Thursday, October 8 View Page Final pic of all 3   Thursday, October 8 View Page I know this is a repeat picture but pictured here is John Barenie slinging pumpkins and Judy Barenie rooting us all on. I got caught up in a conversation and forgot go visit with Judy as I am so wound up trying to keep an eye on everything....so if you read this Judy please do not think I was being rude, and hoped you enjoyed the day. Your support and John's support and hard work has been a part of this club since I met you both in 2003. How the times have changed and pumpkins grow larger.....sincerely thank you both for all you have done and do for the success of this day. And this year to come eventhough no pumpkins says it all....great people and John is a top class grower!   Saturday, October 10 View Page I would personally like to thank Bryan Kochanny for helping me make this crazy season one of the most fun growing years I ever had. His countless questions on a daily basis...lol...kept me on my toes all year. Together we had a fun journey to reach the scales. We had a side bet now known as the "Cherry Blossom Challenge". Between myself and BK, the man who grows the smaller pumpkin will be known as "Cherry Blossom"...lol...Eastbound and Down fans will understand....so anyway BK beat me by 14 lbs....lol...the difference between an additional 1000 dollars and the IGPGA growers belt.....doh!!! I am proud of his tenacity in a crazy season to never give up...so anyone out there has the right to call me "Cherry Blossom Shazzy" and I cant say anything about it until I shut BK next year on the scales...congrats Brother!!! Most fun growing in a long time!