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Location

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Appleton

Yes, I live in Appleton, WI and I want to go to the weigh-off in Kenosha, WI Sept 16 but I do not have transportation. Is there anyone in the Appleton, WI area that is a pumpkin grower that would help me. Obviously I would more than chip in $'s Thanks. Fluffy

8/13/2019 12:41:15 PM

Appleton

Any body, anybody at all out there willing to help me get my "KIN" to the Kenosha Weigh-off on Sept. 16 19...
I live in Appleton, WI Appreciate all the help I can get.

Reason, I can not lift KIN into my Fiat and I do not drive well anymore..."I know, I know I should not be in this pumpkin business because i am definitely not self reliant...FLUFFY

8/14/2019 10:39:22 AM

Central NY

A fiat!!!???...don’t hurt yourself fluffy...I hope someone can help you out ...good luck

8/14/2019 12:15:41 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Fluffy what is your real name and I will post on the Wisconsin Growers site. This will present your question to the correct audience

8/14/2019 1:09:09 PM

Appleton

Dear Menomonie: Hey thanks. My REAL NAME:

is John Hoepfner Appleton, WI

Really appreciate you doing that for me.

8/14/2019 2:57:03 PM

Appleton

Me again...I am just so worried about my beautiful kin aborting....but now that I found out that Green bay, Wi is going to have weigh-off I would really like to go there...but again that is 2 months from now...man o man anxiety-anxiety...I will just have to up my anxiety pills/day...and I will be really sick if my baby aborts period...thanks for listening....John Hoepfner

8/15/2019 11:50:17 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

John I have read some of your past posts. I am not sure how I like your attitude or your lack of gratitude, This site or the Wisconsin Giant Pumpkin Growers owe you nothing. Part of growing a giant is figuring out how to get it to a weigh off if you desire. That being said I will still try to help you find a way to get a pumpkin to a weigh off.

8/15/2019 1:20:28 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Hey to all members: I picked your site because you or someone said what an awesomm club we all belong to: Well I have a bone to pick. My name is John Hoepfner and I live in Appleton, WI. I have been a member for 10 year + and I have a fond spot in my heart for the club. However, for all the years I have been a member I have flunked growing a big KIN. Now this summer, maybe due to bad planning I planted a few of Don Langevin's seeds thinking that maybe I will grow something good, finally. My first mistake was to grow the kins in a community garden. However, my spot was in a raised Bed...think I will beat the varmints and disease's - well bottom line one of my kin's grew and grew. Now I have a 300+ lb kin parked next to my raised bin and I want to get her to a weigh-off...I have asked for help from my Mentor Glen Martin and he said he would help and call me...but no call from him or his wife Margaret yet. Big city grower has been real nice to me and has talked to Glen to and again Glen said he would help but so far to call. We do not have many weigh offs left and the weather may change and my kin may go south on me and on and on it goes. My BUCKET LIST INCLDED THAT I GROW A RESPECTABLE KIN BEFORE I PASS SO THEREFORE I REALLY NEED A CONFIRMATION FROM A MEMBER STATING THAT THEY WILL HELP ME GEY MS KIN TO A WEIGH OFF SAFE AND SOUND AND THAT THE CLUB PUT ME IN THE BOOK THAT I DID WELL IN MY LIFE WITH A RESPECTABLE KIN. THANKS FOR LISTENING. JOHN HOEPFNER

8/15/2019 1:23:49 PM

Zimmerman, Minnesota

Fuffier just rent a truck from Home Depot and get a couple friends or family to lift it in ( you can use a lifting tarp up to 500 pounds or so) or build a tri pod. It’s not that hard to move a pumpkin that is under 500-600 pounds....all you need is some friends....if you don’t have those getting to a weigh-off is the least of your problems:-/

8/15/2019 1:42:00 PM

Grittyville, WA

Yeah unfortunately getting to the weigh off is part of the gig. Unfortunately no one is obliged to help you grow them or move them.
That being said if anyone in a similar situation in the pacific northwest needs a hand with getting one about 800 lb or less to one of the later weigh offs... my my own pumpkin season will be over early... so give me a shout!!!

8/15/2019 3:16:04 PM

Appleton

Hey Dear Menomonie: Just read the above 1st post from you RE: My attitude and lack of gratitude I realize that no one owes me NOTHING!!!! I really want to go to the Kenosha Weigh-off because it is the earliest... HOWEVER, LIKE I SAID IN MY LAST POST...I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GOING TO BAT FOR ME...HOWEVER, I DID ASK GLEN BUT HE NOR MARGARETE SAID THEY WOULD CALL ME. ALSO, THANKS FOR CONTACTING BIG CITY GROWER ..BUT NOTHING FROM HIM NOR GLENN HAS CALLED ME...ALSO I HABE TO ADMIT THAT I WAS A BIT TICKLED RE; THE BUCKET LIST...HOWEVER, IT IS TRUE....THEN AGAIN THERE IS MY DEAR WIFE: SHE TELLS ME REPEATEDLY...HOEPFNER IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT YOU. THAT'S ABOUT IT AND AGAIN THANKS FOR TELLING ME WHAT YOU DID AND THANKS FOR TRYING TO HELP. REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT. JOHN

8/15/2019 8:57:23 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Farmer Brown...you don't need friends. First year...I used an engine hoist, beam extended beyond the legs, with a 6 foot pile of bricks piled up to stop it from tipping over. It was a struggle..the wheels dug into the dirt and it wanted to keep tipping over, but slowly i managed by myself to get the 582 pound pumpkin into my dakota. Future years...each year i grew bigger was a new late season challenge.
I keep seeing pickup rental costs of 19.99. Two challenges to overcome...One, lift the pumpkin...Second, find a transport vehicle/trailer. If you grow one..and you cant overcome the challenge of loading/transport...you wont overcome the other 100 challenges of giant pumpkins.

8/15/2019 9:30:54 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

At weighoffs, I have seen Home Depot trucks, I have seen Uhaul trucks and trailers, I have seen Budget. I have seen 600 pounds of pumpkin shoved into a hatchback. Pumpkin growers are creative...get it done.

8/15/2019 9:36:51 PM

Grittyville, WA

I used 8 ft hot tub pallets and plywood scraps my first year and built a shoddy but structurally sufficient 'arch de triumph' to lift 500 lb and drive under... but yeah it used to be that by hand was the way to move them but then they got too big to move by hand. If no one wants to help you then you will have keep your eyes open for an ingenious solution. Dont hurt yourself... always remember murphys law.

8/16/2019 2:05:05 AM

On a cliff in the desert

Here is a link to build a tripod to lift a giant pumpkin
http://www.greenadrenaline.com/blog/how-to-lift-a-giant-pumpkin. Rent a truck and/or trailer and you are good to go.

8/16/2019 12:14:54 PM

Colorado

Fluff, rent a truck,make a tripod,buy a chain hoist and order that king ring. Go for it!

8/16/2019 1:47:36 PM

Weatherman

Fluff did the same thing last year.

8/16/2019 2:47:31 PM

Appleton

I did nothing last year...I was kicked out of the club for "X" reasons... The year before 2017 I was in Hospital for surgery...and Mr Glen Martin was kind enough to help me out...I placed 6th at the Kenosha weigh-off - Also, I had it in my mind not to grow one this year simply because I can not be reliant and I am getting flak from folks about even growing big kin's...but this year because of a weak moment after many no-show germinating seeds A freak accident happened and my present big kin just jumped out of the ground...it just seems like a big waste if I do not get her to some weigh-off... But again I need help...will I try again next year...???? John Hoepfner Does anyone know if there is a contest for Jack-0-Lantern's and what about Sugar Pumpkins....I think I can handle those...smile!!!

8/16/2019 3:36:24 PM

Weatherman

Fluff what was the "X" reasons?

8/16/2019 8:27:27 PM

Weatherman

Fluff it says you had a 171# pumpkin was it a Jack-O-Lantern pumpkin? :-)

8/16/2019 8:38:06 PM

Zimmerman, Minnesota

Maybe that’s a Roman numeral “x” so 10 reasons and he’s being conservative lol....also what with the caps?? Your finger accidentally hit the cap button lol.

8/16/2019 11:02:38 PM

Appleton

X was for something I did that was very bad...just did not want to broadcast it ....if you want to know what it was give me your e-mail address and i will tell you the truth. Thanks. John Hoepfner

8/17/2019 7:40:03 AM

Central NY

Let’s hear it fluffy....whuddya do?...

8/17/2019 8:13:38 AM

Appleton

OK Here ya go: two years ago I had to have some surgery on one of my neck veins - also, also, and i am not blaming her...bu my dear wife thought it would be a good idea to rearrange our banking accounts. i.e., we both had separate checking acts...at different banks. SO...I pulled my checking act out of my bank and put it into my own act at her bank. Anyway, Then I went to pay my Wisc. Giant Pumpkin act...low and below...the checking act I paid with was closed ...Anyway, anyway...the check I sent to John Barlow was RUBBER...The pumpkin people did not like that..therefore they kicked me out for that year and and every one said really bad things back and forth...that is about it....anyway, I then sent them the $30 dollars that the rubber cost and then later sent another check for the next year....on top of that I had sent one of those bad checks to Margarete...she of-course did not like that...the later I sent her $30 to cover that...but she never told me anything about that...anyway, anyway. That was the 1st rubber-check that I ever sent to anyone..so enough of that...the whole episode made me ill again...so there you have it...The really bad thing was how MAD John Barlow was with me...it was terrible. Again, that is that. John

8/17/2019 10:32:56 AM

Appleton

Dr Compost: No it was not a Mr lantern...I do not know what it was because Glenn and Margarete took it to the weigh off because I was under the knife at St E's in Appleton. John

8/17/2019 4:37:50 PM

Appleton

Hey I did not mean Mr Lantern...I meant Jack 0 Lantern...forgive me and one last thing I DO NOT HAVE A BAD ATTITUDE....THAT COMMENT REALLY BOTHERED ME. JOHN

8/17/2019 7:10:27 PM

Weatherman

Fluff did you write Glenn and Margarete a check for gas money for hauling your pumpkin? :-)

8/17/2019 8:20:22 PM

Appleton

yes i did and it bounced...but i did pay margaret later - gas and hauling never came up but i did give them money for whatever...but margarete never said anything about it...i also sent her $30 dollars later just for all her troubles with everything...but she did not ans. however she did tell me that my kin this year was pretty and that i should bring it to a weigh off...but again, my driving is not good anymore and i do not have help lifting,,,,i have a hernia problem....maybe like you all say....i should just get out of this kin business...

8/18/2019 7:33:00 AM

Central NY

That’s poppycock fluffy...seems the martins were very gracious with their time to help you the last time...and from what I know about the martins, I’m sure they are just as busy helping other new growers that haven’t been helped yet...hopefully your all square with Margret ... you must make arrangements...I’m not saying pop a nut trying to load into the fiat, just saying...you can find a way...there’s no giving up in giant pumpkins..best of luck

8/18/2019 8:51:00 AM

Appleton

Hey thanks. I agree with you...I just talked with Margarete and all is fine there...but they have no room for my Ms KIN! Hey I liked the Poppycock bit...and yes I did appreciate them helping me 2 years ago...and yes Margarete Bank covered the RUBBER check...but I did send them $30.00 for there help. By the the way...somehow or other someone came up with "FLUFFY" so to be cute...it just stuck...but I would rather go by JOHN.

8/18/2019 11:15:17 AM

Weatherman

Fluff do you have Uber service in your area maybe you could put your pumpkin in the trunk and they could take you to the weigh off.

8/18/2019 8:29:11 PM

Appleton

Hey Thanks...that is a creative idea.

8/18/2019 8:31:28 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I’ve been casually observing this conversation and feel compelled to ask, is it really worth stirring up the bad blood and making all this fuss to weigh a 300 pound pumpkin? Why not just put it in the front yard and call it a year? I’m sure it’s the biggest one in your neighborhood, if you live in one, so you’ve got that going for you. But that’s all it’s going to be this year. Ask yourself if it’s really going to make much difference showing up at this weigh off going through all this trouble just to finish last? And next year, when planting your seeds, consider planting the idea in the heads of your friends and family, that you’d like some help transporting a pumpkin when you reach the end game. Really, what would you do if you actually grew a 1500 pound pumpkin? Achieving your dream would be your demise if you have to go through this again next year.

8/19/2019 9:35:18 AM

Appleton

Hey Orangeneck: Thanks. Could not have said it better...Hope everyone reads this. John

8/19/2019 10:08:28 AM