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Farmington, Utah

Thanksgiving Point has informed me that the Prize money is as follows. Pumpkins: 1- $250.00, 2- coupons and gift certificates to their establishment, 3- less coupons and gift certificates to their establishment. Squash: 1 only- $100. There will still be an entry fee of 10.00 per pumpkin. I think that this is a insult to us all. I could take my pumpkin and by a very good chance get first place and take the $250.00, but I refuse to. If there are 50 entries, Thanksgiving point just made $150.00 off of us.
I have set up a weigh off site at J&L Garden Center- 620 North 500 West, Bountiful, Utah. Set for Saturday, Oct. 4th. They will supply the certified scale and we will be the judges and witnesses. Your pumpkins weight will be ligitimate, except in the eyes of the GPC. They will provide us a tent if bad weather. There is no entrant fee. There will be no prize money, because they hold their contest on the Saturday before Halloween. Gary at J&L has graciuosly offered his business location, fork lift, employee help, and paying for the renting of the scale. I think that if you want your pumpkin weighed and not have to pay a fee, we should ban together and not support Thanksgiving Point anymore. They beneifit greatly from us growers and I think we need to send them a message. Email me if you have any questions <[email protected]> Kenny Blair - Please forward this message to all the growers who are planning on going to Thanksgiving Point.

9/19/2003 11:50:09 AM

Utah

I'm with you Kenny, Power to the Growers !!!

gordon
its easy for me this year since
i don't have anything to bring to any weigh off

9/19/2003 12:14:43 PM

Oz

my little AGs are slowing traffic . thats priceless!!
they come over the ridge doing 50+!! (15mph zone)
how much is worth to get someones attention?
id say id pay a dollar to see a big pumpkin,,,
times the number of "tourists",,,,in say,,,three hours?

9/19/2003 12:52:31 PM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

hmmm..it seems to me like every contest that i have ever entered that had a cash prize for money always cost me a few dineros to enter..maybe i'm wrong, fishing tournaments,skeet shoots,billiards,long range rifle,dirt track and drag racing lawn mower racing plus several more,hey i wouldnt fret the 10 bucks you'll get more than 10.00 worth of enjoyment from the first person who ask you how many years it took to grow that thing..

9/19/2003 1:04:29 PM

Key West, FL

All the weigh offs I know are free to enter, the places that hold the weigh offs make a lot of money from the pumpkins. I agree with what you guys are doing.
Ben

9/19/2003 1:47:03 PM

Farmington, Utah

Blkcloud, it's not the money, honest. Thanksgiving Point is a Multi-million dollar establishment. As in hundreds of millions. They are getting free advertisement off of this from the news agencies(TV and Papers). They raked in 500.00 plus from our growers seminar that we, the growers put on. I am not growing pumpkins to benifit an establishment like this. They will be making a profit from the entrants fee's. Do you think that this is right? They will have 400 plus in spectators, that will be spending money at their stores, resturants and venues. They even admitted that the contest has been a good event for them in drawing people. I would rather benifit a small outfit like J&L, who has been extremely appreciative to the local growers in this area. I don't mind the entrants fee's, but making a profit off of us when they are such a huge establishment is ridiculous. I had to pull teeth to get them to say what the prize monies will be. Now, if you are from Wyoming a 5 hour drive, going to a major weigh off and you take 3rd and they say thank you here is nothing for your efforts and we appreciate your contribution of your entrant fee and bringing people to our establishmnet., How would that make you feel. Maybe a little used???? Blkcloud, if you saw Thanksgiving Point you would know exactly what I mean. A world class 18 hole and back nine golf course, Imax theatre, and theaters, museum, farm open to the public(for a fee), ampitheater to hold concerts, and own many stores and resturants on their establishment. They took the weigh off 4 or 5 years back promising that this would be a premier weigh off site. It has been nothing but a joke, a way for them to get free advertising and making money from the growers. Now, why don't you just send them your $10.00 and say,"Here this is yours to keep, I want to help donate to your profits of your huge establishment". They are out of pocket -ZERO- and benefitting greatly. DO you think that this is really right???????

9/19/2003 2:13:48 PM

Rexburg, Idaho ([email protected] )

I agree whole heartedly Kenny! Thats a lot of work but I'm glad you have done it. My hats off to you. No offense but I'm taking the opportunity to go to Oregon otherwise I would be there to support you. Now just need to get the word out to the others. I hope Bruce, Ray, ann Kevin are behind this move.
I'm also putting together a weighoff here in Rexburg, Gives the locals a chance to see some big pumpkins and hopefully generate some interest. I'm doing mine on the 1st. (leaving for Oregon the next morning) If anyone is interested let me know and I'll send you the details.

9/19/2003 3:21:04 PM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

YOU KNOW EVERYBODYS DIFFERENT..I GUESS BEING IN BUS. FOR MYSELF I KINDA SEE IT THEIR WAY, I MEAN NO BODY IS TWISTING THE GROWERS ARM TO BRING THEIR PUMPKIN THERE..WHAT IF THEY GAVE AWAY THE 250.00 AND ONLY HAD ONE ENTRY???I GOT A BUDDY WHO HAS A PULLING TRUCK, HE DROVE 800 MILES TO A PULL ONCE, PAID THE ENTRY FEE, AND BROKE HIS TRUCK UNLOADING IT..TURNED AROUND AND HEADED HOME..SOME PEOPLE JUST CANT STAND IT FOR SOMEONE TO TRY AND TURN A BUCK, I BOUGHT A BACKHOE AT A CITY AUCTION LAST MONTH FOR 2200.00, I GOT IT ON EBAY RIGHT NOW FOR 7000.00. A GUY WHO WAS AT THE AUCTION CALLED ME AND WANTED TO BUY IT AND WHEN I TOLD HIM I WANTED 7K FOR IT HE NEARLY FELL OVER.."I KNOW WHAT YOU PAID FOR IT!!" HE HOLLARD AT ME OVER THE PHONE, I KINDLY TOLD HIM SO...WHAT IF YOUR GONNA PLAY YOU GOTTA PAY... THE 10 BUCKS THEY ARE CHARGING IS FOR ALL THE FAME AND GLORY YOU WILL GET WHEN YOU WIN, HOW MANY FOLKS WILL BE AT THE OTHER WEIGH OFF?? JUST THINK OF ALL THE PEOPLE YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO START IN THIS SPORT AT THE BIG WEIGH OFF VS. THE FREE ONE. JUST MY OPINION...

9/19/2003 3:43:37 PM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

aw hell... my caps button was locked!!!!!! please no emails threating my life!!! it was a honest mistake.. i wont do it again..you would think with my new big screen computer i wouldnt need to type in caps any more >>>>>>.....

9/19/2003 3:45:25 PM

Nova Scotia

i'm all for a person turning a buck, but not for large companies who make a fortune off these events and take money out of growers pockets who spend fortunes growing these things anyway. if i were there i'd support your event kenny with no prize money expected.

9/19/2003 4:05:55 PM

Oz

when you think of the labor hours and admin hours and transportation hours,,,,times attraction factor...

they are worth alot more than how most ultra rich vale "dirt farmers",,,,,,,
the best bently,the biggest house,,biggest boat,,,,
biggest pumpkin,,,,big toys cost ultra rich big money.

but providers of "toys" should not have to pay a "vig"
unless reasonable expences are incurred.
and only if such expences are not deductable from cost of doing business.

i say weigh in local,,,,and send them a sorry cant afford to come e-mail.with a pic.and weight,,,,,,
but then again,,,i dont have a monster........

9/19/2003 4:49:21 PM

Oz

a good back hoe is worth 11 to 22k
i got jeep,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

9/19/2003 4:52:17 PM

Rexburg, Idaho ([email protected] )

blkcloud, I understand what you are saying but as the pumpkins growers we should be the ones in the drivers seat. We have the product and our selling price is respect, publicity and being treated like we are worth something. That is not happening at Thanksgiving Point so we will take our product elsewhere. I look at weighoffs across the country and see significant respect, publicity and even cash being offered to "sponsor" a weighoff. Why is the opportunity to "sponsor" a weighoff worth any less in Utah then elsewhere in the country? Its not. Its just that as growers we haven't demanded the best from our sponsor but that is in the process of changing. We demand the best from our plants, our seeds and our fertilizers why not from those who "sponsor" a weighoff.

9/19/2003 5:16:45 PM

Rexburg, Idaho ([email protected] )

Mcpumpkin, I agree, I hope Kenny sends them a picture that says sorry I can't aford to come to Thanksgiving Point by having his new State Record right in front of a sign for J&L Garden Center on the front page of the Deseret News or Salt Lake Tribune. Then they might wonder what that "free" advertising was worth.

9/19/2003 5:20:25 PM

Farmington, Utah

Blkcloud, I am also a business man. I am holding a contest for the best picture of a personal grown pumpkin. It will be sponsored by my home improvement business. Entrants fees are $10.00. First place will get $5.00. Since I hope that you will compete in this and probabbly be the only one. I should make a profit of $5.00. See $10.00(entrant fee)-$5.00(prize money) = gross profit of $5.00. Oh and there will be a seminar on how to grow giant pumpkins and photogragh them. The fee for this seminar is only $10.00 per head. You and others will run this but I get to keep all the monies collected. Sound fair. Hey I'm just a bussiness man trying to make a buck. Hope to see your picture of your pumpkin along with your $10.00 entry fee soon. Oh and you can also send your $10.00 to pre-register for the seminar also. Just a business man trying to make a buck. Oh, I will have all the news media there at the time of judging so that I can promote my home improvement business as a spiff for holding the contest. I think that is fair. Just a business man trying to make a buck. Look it will only cost you a stamp to mail entry and fees. No truck to haul anything, gas, room for the nite if you drove a long way, etc.. Hell, just grow field pumpkins a do some trick photography. That will save the cost of growing AGs and a lot less time involved. Or you can drive 5 plus hours or more to bring us your picture. Yes that would be better so you could tell us how you grew this pumpkin and took the picture of it. Hey just a business man trying to make a buck. What a great way to make some money. I put out no personal money. You and the other entrants pay for everything and run the seminar. You understand don't you?

9/19/2003 5:36:07 PM

Grants Pass, Oregon

Kenny I agree with you.

9/20/2003 12:41:47 AM

Deer Park WA

Hi Kenny, I agree with you in princapal; us dirt farmers work awfull hard scratching out a decent pumpkin and I believe that we should have some cheep way to exhibit our mighty feats. I pay a membership fee to regional clubs and therefore am entitled to enter any of their sponsered (sponsered being the key word here)events; there are numerous catagories with thousands of dollars in prizes for the hungriest growers to grab. All I am saying is; if us as growers don't band together and set the rules; some fat ole originazation is going to find a way to swipe all the glory and money!

Hope to see you all in Canby.

9/20/2003 1:10:55 AM

Mulino, Oregon

Kenny and Brian you guys are definitely welcomed in Canby, Oregon. This year we'll have over $15,000 in cash awards and prizes available with no entrance fee. For more information go to our website at pgvg.org or email me. And yes we do have several sponsors helping with this event. With this they get exposure and we supply them with pumpkins for displays,carving etc... (growers get to keep their seeds)

Jim Sherwood

9/21/2003 10:13:14 PM

Sloughhouse, CA

Stick together guys. I could see if the entry fee included a lunch (hot dog) and T-shirt.

9/21/2003 11:34:13 PM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

you know i do understand..your one of those types who is always wanting something for free..

9/22/2003 9:44:55 AM

Utah

blk cloud-
do you really like riling people up and pissing them off just for fun ?
well I don't. And I have never understood people who do!!!??? some kind of self esteem or metal problem because people who do that have no respect for others. it's not funny it's just plain rude.
you get a big "L" from me. why don't you comment on something you have some knowledge about....
or would that leave you eternally silent ?
gordon

9/22/2003 2:10:30 PM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

hey, i'm not the one who came on here belly aching about the 10 bucks..all i wanted to say is that in every other sport you enter to win money you have to "pay to play" i dont see where competing in a weigh off is any different any other competitions..

9/22/2003 2:55:50 PM

Nova Scotia

i agree that there should be entry fees. but if there is a company putting on the event. they should have all that money and then some given back to the top growers. (since they get good customer and media attending such events. for free)

9/22/2003 3:08:29 PM