Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 9 Entries. Friday, January 1 View Page See if I start something new here. As I begin my 20th season of Giant Pumpkin Growing Full of Optimism. Let me tell you a little bit about me, and my family. I am Shannon Engel. I am a Quality Engineer for CURT in my non pumpkin time. If you have a CURT towing product on your vehicle most likely I have had some part in its being. I am married to Jodi. We grow four giants orange and pretty pumpkins, and a 1/4 acre of field pumpkins and winter squash. All together I have won five Howard Dill Awards. In the fall you will find Jodi and I carving pumpkins. Our favorite place to carve is Mall of America for Nickelodeon and Lambeau Field for the Green Bay Packers. Jodi thinks she is a better carver than me and we will just leave it at that :) . I have a daughter named Chardonnay, who has a son named Owen. Come this fall I hope he is as excited about pumpkins as trucks. Every season is exciting for me. I really enjoy introducing new growers to this hobby. I hope to one of these years finally get my 4000lb jacket. Good Luck this season   Tuesday, January 5 View Page Talking Pumpkins to the media   Tuesday, January 5 View Page My Family... Remember Family is more important than Pumpkins.   Tuesday, January 26 View Page Well guess who got a job as Store and Greenhouse Supervisor at Season's Harvest Greenhouse. I am jealous as she will have more dirt under her fingernails then me   Tuesday, January 26 View Page In case you were wondering Jodi is doing good. She had her second surgery on December 2nd, and has now been lifted of all restrictions. Thank you for all the prayers and support while we went through this adventure. I hope the roller coaster part is done.   Saturday, March 6 View Page Field of Dreams..If you look close you can see the Sugar Beets, Turnips and Radish bulbs from my cover crop.   Tuesday, April 6 View Page Well what kind of mess do we have here..Low PH, lots of Sulfur   Sunday, April 11 View Page Well after 14 years if being out of the commercial pumpkin business. I must have forgotten how much work it was, so I am getting back into it. Jodi has a new job as Greenhouse/Store Manager at the Greenhouse I grow at and they want fall pumpkins. So I needed a new toy. I have had my eye on this toy for a while, and one came up at a price I could not refuse. I tested a model like this in the early 2000's, and this one has all the bells and whistles. Plus it has a Hiller/Furrower. I will still keep Angello my Ferrari   Sunday, April 11 View Page Plus I purchased a Four wheeler and a Sprayer. I am going to be living at the pumpkin patch...