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Team Munson

I have served for 8 years as a director of the OVGPG & 7 years as president of the GPC. I have been a competitive grower for about 20 consecutive years now & even competed in the 70 - 80’s with my Dad. I have spent countless hours serving the giant pumpkin community to better the sport/hobby for all growers. I have donated ten’s of thousands of dollars in seeds to all clubs who asked. Through all of this I have never seen anything as troubling as this debate over seed sales.

This is my stance on this issue & does not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of the GPC &/or OVGPG.

Seed sales are for the clubs & their facilitating sites to generate money for seminars, patch tours, prize money, & anything they see fit that will promote the advancement of bigger pumpkins, team unity through competition, & family values.

Charities & fund raisers for other needy people are very noble & I commend the people who organize & work to help these causes out. Having to generate funds for nonprofit organizations is a labor of love & I salute your efforts I know from being in that position it is tough.

I will say though last time I checked all giant pumpkin clubs are nonprofit organizations isn’t that a conflict of interest taking from one nonprofit to fund another? Seed sales are not for supporting charities, little league fund raisers, personal monetary gain, or anything that does not directly give back to the giant pumpkin community. I will not donate seeds to any thing but recognized giant pumpkin clubs or entities that will use the money to support giant pumpkin activities. I will also not support & ask others not to support auctions that are for anything but giant pumpkins. I will also ask all growers do their part to call out web sites & individual growers who are selling seeds for personal gain with out giving back to the community.

11/8/2011 2:58:40 PM

Team Munson

With that being said I support the OAF it is the original & was based on giant pumpkins by Dick Wallace. He is an innovator & a very close personal friend the bad part is many are just copy cats & need to find a different way to make money.

Last year I was approached twice to donate seeds for an auction to benefit Steve Jepson a very close friend & colleague of mine whom I miss very much. I did not donate seeds but sent money instead I explained my reasoning & every one understood. This was a very tough decision for me but I knew then if the culture of the way we prioritize seed sales does not change the future of the way clubs generate sales & the further growth of the giant pumpkin community is in serious jeopardy.

How is a new club supposed to survive if we continually dilute an already thin pool of funds? I have worked my back side off to get enough sponsorship to get out of the seed game but obviously we are not there yet. If anyone thinks getting sponsorship is easy please work with your local club &/or GPC to help them obtain proper funding so this seed issue is a moot point.

You can debate all you want as to what is or what is not worthy of having a seed sale for. I am telling you for the record do not ask me for seeds to have an auction for your charity, little league, boy scouts, or what ever out side the purpose of promoting the giant pumpkin community. If you need to raise money for charity do it the old fashioned way solicit donations or have a bake sale but get out of the seed business please.

11/8/2011 2:59:22 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Amen, Dave.

11/8/2011 4:22:35 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

clap clap clap !!

well said

Glenn

11/8/2011 4:37:38 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

What brought this discussion on? Marv

11/8/2011 5:08:17 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Oh, I see now, Marv

11/8/2011 5:11:55 PM

Muddy Waters

I agree! Amen 100%

11/8/2011 6:34:42 PM

Wallingford,CT

Dave, If Dick Wallace ask you to donate your seeds to support OAF, will you donate your seeds?

11/8/2011 7:15:21 PM

Rapid City, SD

well stated Dave.......and thanks for all you do and have done. it is fellers like you that make growing a pleasure.

matt winey

11/8/2011 7:22:29 PM

Ontario

Agreed Dave

11/8/2011 7:33:59 PM

milford, CT,

Dave...you hit th nail on the head. If people don't understand your post..They just don't get it..No need to explain more..Pumpkin seeds should be used for pumpkin weigh offs....if there is hardship that needs donations..ask for donations... I have found the pumpkin growing community to be caring understanding people who understand the difference ..if not..???? Mark

11/8/2011 8:29:20 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

"Seed sales are not for supporting charities, little league fund raisers, personal monetary gain, or anything that does not directly give back to the giant pumpkin community." You nailed it Dave.

11/8/2011 8:55:39 PM

Alaska

What about Ray? P&P Seeds? I love P&P Seeds! Come-on Man!

11/8/2011 11:16:20 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Grow!

11/8/2011 11:16:39 PM

Macomb County

Dave, Thanks for clearing the issue up for me!

11/9/2011 12:11:07 AM

valparaiso, in

"I will also ask all growers do their part to call out web sites & individual growers who are selling seeds for personal gain with out giving back to the community."

Who is to say what does, or does not include giving directly back to the pumpkin community?

11/9/2011 12:38:43 AM

Weatherman

Dave You Da Man

11/9/2011 6:33:00 AM

Hinckley MN

There is nothing unethical about selling seeds for personal gain. There may not be anything commendable about it, but it is not unethical. Donating to charities is not only ethical, but very commendable as well. we should be wary of demanding generosity of others.

Last winter I bought seeds from Dill and P &P seeds before I even knew bigpumpkins.com existed. Was it wrong for them to bring a new person into the giant pumpkin growing community?

11/9/2011 11:55:40 AM

Alaska

I got it! All entries become property of the club? Seeds have to be pulled by club management only and done so publicly. If the grower won't agree to that then all prize money is forfeited? What do ya think?

11/9/2011 12:36:51 PM

Alaska

But seriously, what about trying to condense all auctions into lets say the month of January. With so many by the time the last few roll around just about everybody have what they need and are just looking for a bargain. You could raise your minimum starting bid and sell for a set price seed packets. Just some ideas?

11/9/2011 12:45:05 PM

Bristol,RI,USA.

Dave, I think most of us that have grown for five or more years will do anything to help and support this hobby / sport. We have taken our lead from the great people that got us started in this fun loving hobby. It is not a simple task to fund and run a weigh off of any size, but part of the fun for me is spending time with the group that puts it all together. For me the SNGPG my brothers from another mother! I will continue to try to push to make things bigger and better and somehow we always find a way to get it done. I support you and the GPC keep up the good work!

11/9/2011 5:51:34 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

I'll second that. The future of a club resides in the people that are willing to go the extra mile and give of their talents to support the club and all the activities they choose to do. My role in the club is to be a "worker bee" thats all i'm really aspiring to be other then cracking 1000 lbs barrier..lol by then the 2000 lbs barrier will be broken..lmao! In the end when it gets to the scales all the politics and discussions will be washed out.

11/9/2011 8:46:30 PM

Western ny

amen.....clap...clap...clap

11/15/2011 3:34:45 PM