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71 Entries.
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Monday, March 20
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As pumpkin growers say........."one of the best things is making friends from all over the world".............."seeing smiling faces of children"............."watching the amazement on people's faces when they see the giants, and hear how they grow". So while we are waiting to start seeds, I'll start this year's diary by showing you wonderful memories of 11 years of growing giant pumpkins.
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Monday, March 20
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Many people have said they enjoy the pictures of my grand kids, nieces and nephews. They have grown up so fast! This is Glenna and Kasey in 2006.
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Monday, March 20
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My 5 grand kids in 2007. Charlie was just a pup.
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Monday, March 20
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Grand kids, nieces and nephews at one of our pumpkin pickin' parties. Nothing more fun than being silly!
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Wednesday, March 22
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Helping in the garden always meant pizza and popsicles! 2011
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Wednesday, March 22
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2016 - Now they are bigger and can really get some work done. Here is my daughter-in-law, Brenda, the grand kids, my niece Heather and her kids. They learned the art of stirrup hoeing at an early age!
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Wednesday, March 22
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My son Jeff, daughter-in-law Brenda, grand kids ...........and of course, Charlie!
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Friday, March 24
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I wish I had a photo album of all you great people that I've met in person and through emails. I don't, but here are a few memorable pictures.
A pillar of the giant pumpkin community. Let's hear it for Don Young!
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Friday, March 24
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All time greats............Rose, Werner, and Wolf!
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Friday, March 24
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The Biz and The Wiz ............. a most amazing pair of brothers!!!!
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Friday, March 24
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OVGPG top 10. Lots of famous growers here. How many can you name?
Don't forget the ones in the background.
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Saturday, March 25
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Eddy and the cookie table! We traded 50 dozen homemade cookies at the 2010 Niagara convention, hospitality night, for an 1161 Rodonis seed. No.............Eddy is not the one who baked the cookies!
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Saturday, March 25
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Bill Rodonis - a legend in giant pumpkin growing. Such an honor to meet him.
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Saturday, March 25
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Dave and Carol Stelts, in 2009, with their gorgeous 1662.5.
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Sunday, March 26
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Christy Harp's big win in 2009. World record 1725 Harp. Exciting, exciting weighoff!!!
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Sunday, March 26
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And here, chit-chatting with Christy.............Steve Deletas, who flew in for the OVGPG patch tour.
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Sunday, March 26
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Everyone's favorite - the one and only, Norm "Abbynormal" Gansert!
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Tuesday, March 28
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We say this is a fun hobby - knowing it is time consuming work, and always has its disappointments. Even so, I'll show you some fun at the Rea pumpkin patch.
Our first pumpkin pickin' party was in 2005. Each year the kids make a sign with their names. I've saved everyone!
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Tuesday, March 28
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All aboard! The hayride is ready to roll.
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Tuesday, March 28
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If you can't lift your pumpkin, you ask your brother to help! Spencer and Sean - 2007
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Tuesday, March 28
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Hannah and Heather bringing a load of pumpkins out of the patch.
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Tuesday, March 28
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More pumpkin party fun!
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Thursday, March 30
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In August, the kids would find their favorite pumpkin and carve their name into the skin. It would scab over and grow with the pumpkin.
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Thursday, March 30
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They brought things to the garden to use for pumpkin size comparison!
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Thursday, March 30
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Hannah - harvesting seeds.
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Thursday, March 30
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One year, a pumpkin split. I didn't pull the plant. Instead, I let it grow more pumpkins. They were cream colored. The girls sprayed them orange, and then painted faces. I love this night time picture!
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Friday, March 31
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One fall, the girls helped me strip the patch. I turned around and saw them jump roping with a pumpkin vine!
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Friday, March 31
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Not much I can say here, other than she landed in one piece!
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Friday, March 31
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Remember the ALS challenge a couple of years ago?
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Friday, March 31
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And the sun sets on the pumpkin pickin' party!
Fun hobby? Yes!
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Saturday, April 15
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Easter jelly beans? This is my annual spring gift from Tom Swain - BP Swaintech. Seeds for novelty pumpkins. Always fun to see what they are going to grow.
Thank you Tom!
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Sunday, June 4
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When I saw the beautiful pumpkin that John and Kerry Young grew, I knew I wanted to give it a try. It's just getting going, but I have high hopes for something pretty and orange! It is patch mates with 1810 Werner - 2058 Rose - and 1327 Rea.
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Saturday, June 10
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Party pumpkin plants are on their way. 23 in the ground and 15 more to get planted tomorrow. Along with my standard Cronus - Phat Jack - Sorcerer - One too Many - Red Warty Thing - Little Giant - and Crystal Star, it will be fun to grow seeds from good friends. Thank you Joe House, Tom Swain, Bob Wells, and Steve Razo!
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Saturday, July 29
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Hedgey with the 1297.5 Young.
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Thursday, August 3
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This year I've concentrated on growing roots. Hopefully this will pay off in pumpkin growth, since I got a late start. This 1810 Werner had the largest 20 day OTT I've ever had. And the silly girl thinks she wants to be orange!
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Tuesday, August 8
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This year's pick for growing upright - 334 House. This plant is special to me because Joe selfed my 150 Rea. 150 Rea is from 2006, when I crossed a Prizewinner with an AG - 669 Muller. It has consistently produced bright orange, round pumpkins. Thanks again Joe for making this cross and sending seeds to me!
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Tuesday, August 8
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1810 Werner is 25 days old, and looking kind of pretty at about 400 lbs.
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Thursday, August 17
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The Porkchop guy says I'm sandbaggin'! So Belle and Allie Q-tip stopped over for cookies and to take a look at the 2058 Rose. Rosie is just a baby at 25 days, but she looks like a big girl!!
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Thursday, August 17
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1327 Rea at day 30 and gaining 32 lbs/day. She's recovering from a stem split, that was filleted to keep it from moving into the pumpkin. Seems to be healing now.
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Thursday, August 17
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1810 Werner - 35 days old and looking sweet! Seems like my pumpkins all look alike except for that Rosie girl!
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Thursday, August 17
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1297 Young.......She hit 1,000 lbs. on day 40, growing 40 lbs./day. Nice!
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Thursday, August 31
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1297.5 Young looking great at 55 days, 1400+ pounds and gaining 30 pounds per day. The deep ribs add such character. They are also easy prey for pinhole splits. Found 3 this morning! No fun!
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Tuesday, September 5
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The Rea Girl, 1327, is 50 days old. She passed the 1000 mark, and is making moderate daily gains.
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Tuesday, September 5
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The Quinn Girl, 1810, is also 50 days old, and passed the 1000 mark, and making moderate daily gains. Pretty thing!
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Sunday, September 10
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Rosie Girl, who was the runt of the litter, has stepped it up and is catching the others. She got tired of being dull white in a patch of orange. So she added a little blush and a little shine, and is gleaming like an opal in the sunlight!
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Sunday, September 17
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Rea Girl with my nephew and his baby. I'm into the 2nd generation!!
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Sunday, September 17
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Here they are again with Quinn Girl......1810 Werner.
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Sunday, September 17
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Baby Clayton with a 334 House..........which is my 150 Rea selfed. A Prizewinner crossed with an AG.
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Wednesday, October 4
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I have 3 pumpkins - each one wanting to go to the OVGPG weighoff. Different colors......different shapes......but nearly the same OTT!
Baby Hunter says Miss Rosie should go - She looks pretty big!
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Wednesday, October 4
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But Miss Quinn is pretty high - and nice and round!
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Wednesday, October 4
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Daniel and Blitz say, "This one must go!" Miss Rea!
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Tuesday, October 10
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Since I don't have a 2000 lber to show you.......I'll jump in here, between weighoffs, with a couple of "pickin' pictures. Granddaughter Megan, on left, brought friends from Mount Union University, home for the weekend, to visit the pumpkin patch. Charlie doesn't go to college.....he's still in high school! 1810 Werner in the background.
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Tuesday, October 10
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Granddaughter Kasey, on left, with 3 of her cross-country buddies.
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Tuesday, October 10
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Thrilled with pink "Porcelain Doll" pumpkin!
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Tuesday, October 10
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Cleaning up your pumpkins is as much fun as picking them!
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Tuesday, October 10
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This photo speaks for itself!
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Wednesday, October 11
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A cowgirl visited the patch today.
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Wednesday, October 11
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Cowgirl Gracie and the 2058 Rose.
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Wednesday, October 11
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Yikes!
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Saturday, October 14
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Great day at the OVGPG weighoff. Here are the fabulous top ten growers..........and proud of the site top 10 average of 1825 lbs.
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Saturday, October 14
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Top 3. Carol and Dave Stelts 2090.5 lbs. Karl Haist 2003 lbs. Don Barron 1867.5 lbs. Congratulations!
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Monday, October 16
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Sunday morning, after the OVGPG weighoff, we unloaded the pumpkins and started the yard display. Here is Miss Rosie, 2058.5 Rose.
She weighed in to become the 1363 Rea 17.
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Monday, October 16
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This orange orange beauty did not get to go to the weighoff. So Miss Rea, 1327.5 Rea 14, shall now be called the 1275 est. Rea 17.
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Monday, October 16
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Miss Quinn, 1810 Werner, was awarded the Howard Dill Award, and is now the 1374.5 Rea 17.
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Monday, October 16
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And here is the full display, all ready for photo shoots of family and friends.
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Saturday, October 28
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When we file those seeds in April, we have no idea what the season will bring. In 2017 I had several firsts.......My first Howard Dill Award and my first requests to talk to little school kids about growing pumpkins. What fun - what excitement! My collection of 18" x 24" photo boards were a big hit.
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Saturday, October 28
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And this weekend, another first. A wedding at the pumpkin display!
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Saturday, October 28
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In September, for 2 days, videographer, Len Brown, came to film for a local church. He wanted to capture life lessons to learn in the pumpkin patch. He brought several "very fancy" cameras.
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Saturday, October 28
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He filmed for an hour with a drone. Very fun to watch! Len and the pastor have created a 5 week series of sermons titled "Pumpkin Patch Parables".
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Saturday, October 28
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Here they are: 1) Cultivate Faith: the parable of the mustard seed. 2) Cultivate Transformation: the parable of the sower and the seed. 3) Cultivate Discipleship: the parable of the wheat and the tares. 4) Cultivate Stewardship: the parable of the talents. 5) Cultivate Patience: the parable of the manure and the fig tree.
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Saturday, December 23
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MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE REA FAMILY!
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