Message Board - BigPumpkins.com

nOVA sCOTIA

was there only one soft spot or two ?

10/1/2015 5:49:34 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

All judges decisions are final.

10/1/2015 5:50:55 PM

Chris S.

My statement above is made with the intention of not choosing sides. I know Josiah personally. I know Andy personally and most or all of the GPC committee personally.

I have no pumpkin in the fight. Just friends. I don't have a state record contending pumpkin. Only friends with contenders. Including Josiah.

10/1/2015 5:54:15 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

was the pumpkin declared official before it was weighed Chris??

10/1/2015 5:55:50 PM

Michigan Masher ( Team Bennett)

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

Donkin, yes, it was allowed to be weighed as an official fruit by the judge at the event. Yes, it had more than one are of significant rot that was removed. The committee decided that the fruit should not have been allowed to be weighed without the DMG tag, that is why the ruling was changed.

10/1/2015 6:12:46 PM

Tconway (BigStem)

Austin MN

I agree with Chris after reading the rules I understand now... I personally myself was at the weigh off it looked good bit had a big scare I always thought it was just if it made it to cavity. Good to know the rules for the future! :)

10/1/2015 6:21:06 PM

Michigan,up North

yes declared official at wiegh off ,by judges at wiegh off ,,then over turned from pictures fome gpc,gpc should belive in there judges

10/1/2015 7:24:15 PM

Smallmouth

Upa Creek, Mo

So this was overturned from judges in a different state and breaking their own rule -Article 2(D) "Judging is to be completed before a fruit is officially weighed"?

And why would anyone keep a grower diary now if they have a big one when Andy was using grower diary pics as an example in his GPC News thread? Sounds like it was overturned by word of mouth AFTER the weighoff and using grower diary pics?

10/1/2015 7:31:15 PM

KC Kevin

Mission Viejo, CA

I'm going to get some popcorn....

10/1/2015 7:34:22 PM

Pinnacle Peak

British Columbia, Canada

"A serious soft spot is one that is greater than 3 inches in diameter, and greater than 3 inches deep."

No offense to Cecil, and I apologize for asking this again, but doesn't the 1921 weston technically fall under the same catagory that the 1965 was disqualified by? I'm really confused here.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=248609

10/1/2015 7:57:34 PM

huffspumpkins

canal winchester ohio

Im sure someone will verify it but I believe that hole on cecils was under 2"

10/1/2015 8:05:42 PM

ClearlyMoronic (TeamTrenchant)

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

Smallmouth, Andy didn't make the decision. Just because Andy sent the email to Josiah and posted it on here doesn't mean he acted alone. The only that signifies is that he did his duty as the President of the GPC and I sure didn't envy his position on this occasion. The people who are trying to single out Andy are making assumptions. The entire GPC committee discussed it in great depth and voted on it.

10/1/2015 8:11:29 PM

Bubba Presley

Muddy Waters

Cecils were less then 2 inches

10/1/2015 8:23:11 PM

sambo

Sparta, NC

Every member of GPC committee was involved in this decision. It was a tough decision but one we thought that that had to be made. Andy didn't do this on his own. We as a group decided this. Don't kill the messenger. Andy as President of the GPC just made the announcement.

10/1/2015 8:34:20 PM

DKrus

Cheshire Ma USA

The judges decision is final at the weigh off.

10/1/2015 8:48:14 PM

Pinnacle Peak

British Columbia, Canada

Thanks mark.

10/1/2015 9:32:11 PM

New Richmond WI

IT MAKES SENSE ... about what the GPC has decided, about what was said about the respect for all and friendships, AND ... EVERYONE is wishing Josiah's big one takes GOLD.

10/1/2015 9:46:52 PM

Deal With It

This is not 'nam. There are rules. I apologize ahead of time for the profanity. Having said that, I would love to grow some of those 1965 seeds here in Oklahoma. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiQmQhA-OrM

10/1/2015 10:10:00 PM

DHertz

Waterville, Ohio

Rules are fairly clear, but in my opinion I believe any fruit with spots not reaching the cavity should be ruled official regardless on quantity or size.
Any pumpkin that holds during lifting and transport should prove its integrity. A specimen with fatal issues would not survive either endeavor.
These issues seemed to arise more this year than previous years.

10/1/2015 10:10:19 PM

DHertz

Waterville, Ohio

10/1/2015 10:10:19 PM

Bubba Presley

Muddy Waters

The rules are clear the judges need to be educated prior to the weigh offs

10/1/2015 10:25:04 PM

Brooks B

Ohio

Not trying to start anything , just trying to understand the meaning of soft spot if it doesn't breach the cavity..... So let's just say 2 days before the weigh off a person discovers this soft spot and cuts this bad spot out, paints daconil over it and then puts a fan on it , and it indeed does dry and never does breached the cavity, would this fruit still be disqualified? Look at all the stems areas on these pumpkins that have been weighed in over the years that had way more then 3 inch soft spots but was then dried out with daconil, suffer etc with a fan later. I'm not sure how much a stem area would be the same as another area of a pumpkin as long as it don't breach the cavity , but I have never seen a pumpkin disqualified for a two inch area of the stem area that was soft but was then dried out by a fan. So what would make this pumpkin any different?

10/1/2015 11:03:52 PM

cojoe

Colorado

If the fruit was ruled sound at the contest I don't see how it can be DQ'ed later.If it scabbed over its legal(I think) and that's not something pictures are going to prove either way.I think it has to be allowed as judges decisions are final. Moving forward this subject needs more clarification for growers and judges as brooks has legit concerns on how to interpret current rules.

10/2/2015 12:29:10 AM

Knopp, Germany

The stem is part of the pumpkin, or?

10/2/2015 12:36:43 AM

Brooks B

Ohio

I dunno Owen? Lol.... How u been!?
I guess what I'm asking is , if Josiah would have caught that 2 inch soft spot ( and if it didn't breach the cavity) and cut that soft spot out A day or two before the weigh off ,painted it with daconil, sulfur or what ever and dried it completely out with a fan,.Would it still be disqualified?

10/2/2015 4:15:27 AM

StuP

Lymington

Good point we only have weigh offs once a year it wouldn't take long to go through the rules and remind ourselves of them before the start. Cecile and Teresa did the right thing weighing there pumpkin early after spotting the problem. It cost them a few weeks growth but didn't put them or the judges in a difficult position. Commendable good for them.

10/2/2015 4:19:47 AM

Knopp, Germany

Brooks! doing fine, thank you.

I believe it all comes down to the word "soft", if the spot is not soft, then no need to cut any mushy stuff away, and in my opinion a sound fruit, regardless of where, stem, blossom, wherever.

If the judges at that event determined that the spot was dry and not soft I do not understand what the problem is.

Almost feels like a political battle, I would bet that there is more to this then we are being told.

Not easy being a local judge and for sure not easy being a GPC person, I only hope that my posts do not cause bad feelings because I really like the guys/gals on the committee.

10/2/2015 4:25:29 AM

MR. T. (team T)

Nova Scotia

considering the sizes of pumpkins now a days (2000lbs +) is not a 3" soft spot out dated. on a normal field pumpkin a 3" soft spot is significant but on a 2000 + giant its like a flee bite on your arse.
sad thing is though each weigh off has its own judges that want to see their area and friends do better than others so there are occasional blind eyes, or critical eyes depending on the grower. I know of at least one record that should never have been. By the rules it was leaking, but he was popular and with record on the line, eyes looked the other way. by the way this did not happen in my area.

10/2/2015 6:11:46 AM

seedling

London, Ohio

2360

10/2/2015 6:15:45 AM

nOVA sCOTIA

a pic of the rot spot is very clearly displayed in his diary photo.This was very clearly not even close to entering inside the cavity! From here on in any soft spot 3" x 3"min gets disqualified before it hits the scale????? although not into the cavity????

10/2/2015 6:40:21 AM

Josh Scherer

Piqua, Ohio

I agree with the GPC reps about the 3" hole, rules are rules. The part I have trouble with is the judges allowed it to be weighed a sound fruit. The judges know the GPC guidelines, but in my opinion it shouldn't be DQ'd after the fact. The judging was wrong.

10/2/2015 7:21:57 AM

Knopp, Germany

Does anyone know if the spot was soft like rot?

10/2/2015 8:05:55 AM

farmergal

New England

yes, the rules are rules but the pumpkin was passed for weigh off by the judges at the weigh off. How can they go back on their word like that? I don't understand how a pumpkin can be determined DQ'd after the fact.

10/2/2015 8:11:31 AM

nOVA sCOTIA

so if a record breaking pumpkin leaks only a couple of days after it is weighed will it be reviewed as dmg ??

10/2/2015 9:21:04 AM

eastkypumpkin(Dwight)

Prestonsburg,ky

the biggest question as I see it is as Owen asked was the pumpkin soft or had it healed over? this rule about sound fruit needs to be looked at greatly. If you read the rule it seems that if a fruit has two spot no matter the size it is dmg but if a person is lucky enough to get one to heal over it is a shame that it is dmg.

10/2/2015 10:54:12 AM

MNFisher

Central Minnesota

Dwight, there were no rot or soft spots on the pumpkin when we judged it prior to it being weighed. The spots had been cleaned 6 days prior to weighoff and were dry skinned over and hard. In our opinion and the opinion of our GPC rep the day of the weighoff was that spots that were skinned over and hard were no longer soft spots.

10/2/2015 11:02:38 AM

Pumpkinman Dan

Johnston, Iowa

Too bad this pumpkin got "recalled". Why not just defer to the judges and the GPC rep who were there? Based on the post-weigh-off pics that were posted I would have liked to have seen it not ruled DMG. I personally hope there is a rule clarification or change that would address this in future, before this scenario becomes more frequent. Unfortunately in this hobby we're not dealing with anything like a democracy.

10/2/2015 11:29:35 AM

Knopp, Germany

Now the question that needs to be asked,

Who was the GPC rep and what is his or her stand on this?

Whoever it was, I for one think you made the right decision.

BTW, who came up with the 3" rule? Why not 2.75 or 3.25? Stupid rule, soft to the middle of the pumpkin would be enough.

The GPC needs to explain "In Detail" their decision.

As a country boy says, stupid is as stupid does.

10/2/2015 12:40:42 PM

Dutch Brad

Netherlands

When I started growing pumpkins many, many years ago, I understood the "no hole through to the cavity" rule was made to make sure nothing was intentionally or unintentionally added to the pumpkin to increase the weight.

That being said, in the giant vegetable world all specimens must be "clean and sound". Then there is a list of exceptions. Parnips may have cancer if it is dry (parsnips just tend to get it real easy), beetroot can split (which it does and then it dries up and scars), etc. etc.

I think the questions here are, was there any way that weight was added to this pumpkin, and was the pumpkin in a process of decay, like a rotten tip to a carrot or mush at the top of a rutabaga?

Tough call.

I also think it is amazing that so much was cut out of this pumpkin and it still went so heavy to the charts!

10/2/2015 1:07:25 PM

Duster

San Diego

I believe that GPC judges on site decision should be final. Kind of like what most sports do such as the NFL. Official calls are final when made during the game. In the off season, changes can be made for the following year if the league thinks a decision was wrong or a rule needs to be clarified or addressed for future years. Should be same for pumpkins. All decision should be final at weigh off by judges, no exceptions. If the GPC feels something was done in error later on, the rules need to be changed or clarified for the following years. But going back and changing would not be fair and undermines your own judges on site. It opens up a big can of worms if decisions on site are later overturned by others.

10/2/2015 1:33:07 PM

wixom grower

Wixom MI.

I have a pumpkin that got 4 bit marks on it two week ago ! I had to clean them a little to prevent any decay ! They are healed, but by the rules once their is a second spot it is dmg.but they are only 1/4" deep and healed.should this be ok or a dmg ???

10/2/2015 4:34:23 PM

DKrus

Cheshire Ma USA

Not in 2012 it wasn't Donkin good point!!

10/2/2015 8:44:28 PM

Holland

Washington State

I came in 2nd to a pumpkin a few years back that had definate visual problems coming up to the scale. It lasted maybe five minutes after it was weighed before it was leaking and stinky. I called from the weigh off site to the then head of the GPC to file a complaint and was told if the judge deemed it a viable pumpkin and it was weighed officially then it was considered an official weigh. End of discussion, Mari Lou

10/2/2015 8:57:36 PM

Smallmouth

Upa Creek, Mo

I am sorry for commenting again, but this really bothers me. I truly feel Josiah was ripped off... read the above from Holland. Also, Scott Steil was one of the people who declared it eligible to be weighed. He is no rookie, but yet a committee who wasn't present at the weigh off decided to override the local GPC decision after the event and breaking their own rule. Are the good ole boys scared of the young kids?

10/2/2015 9:10:51 PM

BIG SHOW DOG

Kentucky, U.S.A.

Making it very hard to bit my tongue! I don't have a dog in this fight, oh well, maybe next year! Always going to be something, just what or who pushed the GPG's button to "look into this ruling"? No don't say names! Was a call made complaining? Please, really? You want all potential wrongs called in cause someone's feelings got hurt? Not sure I'd want to be in your shoes, but, that's why you're there and we are here.

10/2/2015 11:02:12 PM

1064

Tenino, WA.

The GPC has a rule in place that allows for an entry to have minor defects and still be considered a sound fruit. So where do we go from here? How about a rule that requires the entry to be completely free of all defects, no stem splits, no soft spots, no holes, no external damage at all. Very clean and simple to follow. Is that what we want? Or maybe no rule at all anything & everything goes. If you can get it on the scale its good. The GPC is trying to keep all of us on a level playing field. The 3" X 3" rule is not new it has been in place for many years and enforced in the past. The rule is pretty clear. If the hole or spot is bigger than 3X3 inches it simply does not qualify as a sound entry for the GPC. We can still get a weight, still harvest seeds. The fruit will still show in the GPC records the genetics will still show up the weight will not change, but it will show as a DQ. We have all lost big fruit in the past and it still hurts every time but s--t happens get use to it because in this hobby it will happen again. Let's not beat up our friends in the GPC steering committee they are volunteers working hard for all of us.

10/3/2015 2:13:03 AM

1064

Tenino, WA.

Hi Mari Lou I think I remember the weigh-off you referred to. It was around 1994 - 1995. You were a couple of states away from home, right? I did not attend that contest but I heard the same information from other growers who were there. The big pumpkin that won was just a day or two away from being mush. It was leaking and smelled. You had the heaviest sound fruit at the weigh-off.

10/3/2015 3:01:31 AM

Killdeer

Usa

At the world-class growing level all pumpkins should be clean and sound and available for major horticultural exhibitions. It's part of the game and protects the fairness of the international competition. Also, unless a dispute is about a pumpkin challenging top current records, it is not wrong to let local judges make the final weigh-off day ruling, though there should be some explaining to do later if the story mentioned above is correct.

10/3/2015 10:31:58 AM

Knopp, Germany

At the world-class growing level all pumpkins should be clean and sound and available for major horticultural exhibitions

I agree, but what is world class? clean, sound? Who is going to stand up and say, "I am a giant pumpkin grower and I know what should be considered clean and sound"?

And WTF is the "World Class Level"? Who made that decision?

Our hobby is not about who has the biggest, cleanest, without scars, it is about bringing your community together to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

I have no doubt that there are many growers out there that are doing this for the wow effect, not the WE effect and for sure not for money.

I do not want support from those that agree with me, I want them to boycott the GPC.

10/3/2015 1:25:43 PM

Bry

Glosta

Ok everyone refers to the rules, and they are so open for interpretation. Imagine if this went before a judge. A first year college law student could beat this.

I mean as everyone states look at the rules....

B) A serious soft spot is one that is greater than 3 inches in diameter,
and greater than 3 inches deep. The dimensions of the soft spot
will be measured after all soft material has been removed with a
spoon.

Did any material require removal by the judges on site. Obviously they looked at the area as it was fully visible. so I'm gonna venture out and say none was removed.

C) If there are more than two soft spots that require material to be
removed and measured, the pumpkin will be disqualified even if
each is smaller than the definition of “a serious soft spot”.

Again I refer to "Require removal" you could have 100 holes on fruit that don't require removal. but if 2 do then it's DQ'd. Did 2 holes require removal by the judges on Josiah's fruit?

If you want to Use the whole Sound fruit argument then use the definition to its fullest
1. Free from defect, decay, or damage; in good condition

So any fruit with stem splits, cracks or damage of any sort should be DQ'd. now there's a can a worms to open up.

If someone wins with half a pumpkin good on them as long as the cavity isn't breached.

Finally the last rule
D) Judging is to be completed before a fruit is officially weighed.

judging was done and it was officially weighed. Leave it at that.

The GPC had no problem reversing this decision. I think they should have some humble pie and reverse it again and realize that the decision was not correct nor legal.

10/3/2015 5:52:05 PM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

Bry, does it state in the rules at what location the material was removed? At the grower's home? The weigh-off? Or any other location? I don't see that stated. That leaves us to believe that whatever location the fruit is at when the material is removed that it would meet the definition of a serious soft spot if it exceeds the previously stated size.

Based on your experience with giant pumpkins do you believe that the fruit in the link below had material removed in excess of the previously stated size? If you do how many would you spot on this fruit?

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=248294

10/3/2015 8:45:01 PM

East Jordan, MI

The rules were interpreted by the onsite judges.

It was discussed, evidently at length.

A decision was made.

The rules CLEARLY state in section 5

D) All judges’ decisions are final. All judges will be
responsible to have a complete knowledge of all rules and
how to implement them fairly. It will be necessary to have a current copy of the rules present at each site in public view so anyone may reference them.

Reversing their decision is wrong. There is no other conclusion to be made.

10/3/2015 9:06:51 PM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

And the judge CLEARLY made the choice to ignore the rules!

10/3/2015 9:15:28 PM

East Jordan, MI

6.
Law. a.precluding further controversy on the questions passed upon:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/final?s=t

The judicial determination of the Supreme Court is final.

b.determining all issues presented, so that no further decision upon the merits of the issues is necessary:
a final judgment or decree.

10/3/2015 10:19:03 PM

Bry

Glosta

Kevin was the spot soft? Or solid flesh. Weigh of wasn't at the growers house when the problem was spotted and dealt with. We all been growing long enough to know fresh scraped pumpkin meat. From the pictures it doesn't look fresh to me.

There is no doubt material had been removed prior to the weigh off. But what was condition of said spot at weigh off. Was it probed and cleaned out by judge? If it was deemed healed or healing and no soft material was evident at the event , you and the rest of the committee should have honored the judge's descision.

I've only been growing since 2009 and I've seen lots of pkns that you can reverse to then. Only seen DQ for into cavity. Maybe you should probe all the diaries on bp.com and DQ any and all pkns that violate a rule. Have fun with that.

10/4/2015 12:11:18 AM

East Jordan, MI

it's really weird when you use the definition of words used.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/judge?s=t

judge
noun
2.
a person appointed to decide in any competition, contest, or matter at issue; authorized arbiter:

10/4/2015 12:17:29 AM

anaid_tecuod

SF Bay Area, California

Bad day for the sport. GPC commitee blew it big time with this bad call on several levels. Come on guys... a scabbed over area on a pumpkin is not a soft spot... by definition. This should be clarified in the rules so that every member of the GPC commitee understands it.

I've cut out soft spots and had them scab over and had the pumpkin last until after April Fools day the next year. How is that not sound?

And undermining the honest decisions of the local judges after the fact? come on guys...

This is so wrong.

10/4/2015 12:40:25 AM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

I think everyone agrees that the some rules have to be followed for weighing pumpkins. The GPC already has rules and after this lengthy discussion everyone knows what they are. If someone disagrees with those rules I can understand that, we all have different opinions. I have no idea where, by who or why this 3" rule was created, but it's the rule, right or wrong, and has been for quite some time. By entering a GPC weigh-off the entrants agree to be judged by the GPC rules. After receiving complaints that the rules weren't followed at one of the the events the GPC looks into it. The GPC decides based on the information they have that the rules weren't followed properly and decided to add the DMG designation to the entry. That's it. Nothing else. The person still has their prizes, no one is attempting to take them away. But apparently people want the GPC to turn a blind eye when they believe the rules are ignored and do nothing.

10/4/2015 1:17:12 AM

Bcbf (Gary)

I don't believe anyone wants the GPC to turn a blind eye. The problem with rule as it is written is that it does not clearly state the difference between a hole and a soft spot or define either. Therefore, it is left upto the individual to interpret that. From what I have read, the judges did there best to follow the rule as they interpreted it.

10/4/2015 1:56:07 AM

Bcbf (Gary)

I also believe the GPC committee must set a good example by following the rules.The rules state that all judging must be completed before weighing and the judges decision is final.

10/4/2015 2:48:26 AM

Knopp, Germany

Talk without action is meaningless.

Boycott the GPC.

have the courage of one's convictions, to act in accordance with one's beliefs, especially in spite of criticism.

10/4/2015 4:20:20 AM

Killdeer

Usa

World-class is a pretty benign comment. People grow pumpkins for orange color. In other competitions vegetables are grown for uniform shape or appearance. There isn't less community in these events. The yellow basketball sized pumpkin attacked by animals in June could heal over and there is no problem. Large sections of rot don't heal in 7 days. In 4 decades of attending top established weigh-offs both GPC and non-GPC, never has a pumpkin with this kind of damage gone to scale or been displayed. I am sure that decision by the committee was unanimous, but some folks want to challenge rules like a lawyer instead of learning something new from a correct decision or clarification by the committee.

10/4/2015 7:14:56 AM

Knopp, Germany

I have had a stem split that I treated by cutting the stem from the pumpkin towards the vine so that the pressure was taken off the pumpkin flesh. In 2-3 days the split opened completely, about 2-3" wide and 4-5" long. I then took a hair dryer and with high heat scarred the wound over in about 2 hours. After another day or two it was completely dry and scarred over.

This year I removed a soft and mushy blossom end, put a greenhouse heater on it and within a few days it was completely dry.

10/4/2015 7:48:12 AM

Knopp, Germany

I just made a post to my diary showing a completely healthy AG that I grew this year that per the GPC rules would probably be deemed DMG.

A completely healthy AG.

10/4/2015 8:21:22 AM

East Jordan, MI

Since we are all making suppositions...
I wasn't there when the soft spot rule was added, but I believe the intent behind the serious soft spot addition to the rule that it couldn't have a hole to the center was to ensure that the pumpkin wasn't rotting.

Since you are going to go by pictures, the pictures of the pumpkin cut open after the weigh off clearly show that the pumpkin was not rotting.

If a 3x3 spot that is dry and healed is determined to be the same as a "serious soft spot" then there will be a LOT for DQ'd pumpkins in the future. The bigger we push these things, the more apt to have splits that have to be healed is.

I've seen cracks a foot long and up to 2 inches deep -- many times as many as 10 of them on a pumpkin.

I've seen stem splits that went farther than 3 inches into the shoulders behind the stem.

We've all seen them, and on some very big pumpkins...

10/4/2015 9:02:23 AM

anaid_tecuod

SF Bay Area, California

The soft spot rule as written and interpreted by the GPC committee is totally inconsistent with the term "Sound Pumpkin"

Three quarter-sized spots on the bottom of the fruit – disqualified by rule. A large rotting area on the bottom but only 2” deep – Scrap it off and it’s good to go by rule. Half a dozen squirrel bites – disqualified by rule.

Site judges should be empowered to determine whether a fruit is sound or not. All decisions are final.

This is just so wrong guys....

10/4/2015 9:42:38 AM

Knopp, Germany

Ah the trails and tribulations of judging giant pumpkins.

As I originally "assumed" many posts ago there is more to this then is being shared with the public.

Why the parties involved cannot just come out and tell us the rest of the story is beyond me, it's really not that bad.

I think I am going to have a t-shirt made with "Really" on the front and "Jack A**" on the back.

Thanks Luigi, whoever you are (troll).

10/4/2015 9:52:50 AM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

Cecil and Vince,

I agree, I'm sure pumpkins have been weighed before that have had damage that should have DQed it by the current rules but weren't. That doesn't make it right does it? Can we go back and fix them? Nope. Can we try to have clearer rules and better understanding moving forward? Absolutely. That's the direction we're headed.

10/4/2015 10:51:22 AM

Knopp, Germany

"Can we try to have clearer rules and better understanding moving forward? Absolutely. That's the direction we're headed"

Who is "we're", so long as the GPC acts in a vacuum, which has been the case since I recall them even being involved, the rest of the pumpkin world will question the rules.

When changes are suggested from within the GPC a public notice should be made so that the committee can have a chance to voice their opinion. That's what a democracy is all about.

Transparency, that's all I (will not speak for anyone else) am asking for.

10/4/2015 11:02:44 AM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

Owen,

Of course, as you originally assumed there is more to it than what has been said publicly. If someone chooses not to make their opinions public information I'm not going to be the one to throw what someone said out there for all of mankind to see. I'm not going to throw someone under the bus no matter what side they may be on.

You'll probably find this surprising but a lot of people via email, text, et cetera have privately stated they support the decision. Others have stated the exact opposite of your position and said they would boycott the GPC if it hadn't been changed to a DMG. Again, that was all private, those people choose not to voice there opinion here. I'm going to ASSUME they don't because they don't want to have to defend how they feel publicly, or they don't want a mob at their doorsteps wielding torches and pitchforks.

10/4/2015 11:07:07 AM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

Owen,

"we're" implied everyone who participates in the GPC, committee members, reps, site coordinators, growers, everyone.

10/4/2015 11:11:26 AM

Knopp, Germany

"they don't want a mob at their doorsteps wielding torches and pitchforks."

What? Is that really the stance of those growers? I feel like Ralph Nader fighting the auto industry.

No one should be thrown under the bus for making what they thought was the correct decision, and a little bit of respect should be given to those that only see a partial story here.

If the GPC and the weigh off site could for just one second stand back and try to not be biased, sounds like the USA congress to me oh how I wish the GPC would for one minute be transparent.

Andy Wolfe and the GPC you are in a hard position, I realize that, there is nothing personal going on here, but I want to understand. And I can only "Assume" that others do also.

Even when I never attend another GPC sponsored weigh off I hope that we can still be virtual friends, though from the responses I am getting (yes I get hate emails from GPC troills) I doubt it.

10/4/2015 11:51:44 AM