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Glosta

Every year we see the great news of WR and country records falling for things like cabbage, parsnip, rutabaga (swede), etc etc etc. Will the GPC ever recognize these. Last year I weighed 2 marrow and a rutabaga at Topsfield. No prize no compettition just because they said I could get a weight there. Why limit to just a few vegetables? maybe include a new vegetable each year. Wouldn't this fit in the "growth of the Hobby" mentality?

9/3/2012 11:27:06 AM

Northern California Foothills

I too would like to see a lot more categories.The EGVGA is able to do it.The problem is that the GPC would have to get a lot of people interested in growing them otherwise there would be hardly any competition. Prize money is a factor too. The GPC won't give out $100+ for a category that has two entries.

9/3/2012 2:08:00 PM

Colorado

Bry for know,I believe they're focusing on the vegetables that are in the master gardener competition.Adding vegetables would have to be voted on by the board.Youd have to lobby for your favorites to be added over time.popularity pressure might sway the vote

9/3/2012 2:09:03 PM

Glosta

How are they focusing on the master gardner vegetables? Prize Money?

9/3/2012 2:25:34 PM

morristown, Tn email [email protected]

all we would need to do is raise a higher money to pay more things out

9/3/2012 4:45:28 PM

Glosta

Why is always about money?
Its not about the pay outs, give a ribbon for the largest world wide each year. Lets say 10 more categories thats only 10 more ribbons each year, even if top 3 thats only 30 more ribbons. the minute anything is said instantly its about money, payouts, how many places, etc etc etc. Lets forget the money Isn't this suppose to be about growers and their efforts. Yes money is nice but it ruins evrything it touches. First weigh off I went to was Durham fair took a 440 # pkn. Got a certificate stating my accomplishment. It made me feel better than the money I won at topsfield last year for 3rd place squash. As did the green ribbon I got. Drop the money aspect. Lets reward more growers for their efforts. 1/2 ton patches, best in category ribbons, most improved grower over all. It's the little things that will keep growers in the hobby and draw new ones. Let's try and focus on that and work from there.

9/3/2012 5:54:40 PM

Rhode Island

bry

i certainly understand how growers like yourself feel.
as a former gpc executive i know that the gpc will never be able to satisfy everyone however, they will listen to anyone.
id suggest you find out who your area gpc rep is and communicate your thoughts to them? let them bring your ideas forward.who knows? the time may be here for additional weigh-off competitions.
all that info is available on the gpc web site.just google great pumpkin commonwealth.

as far as dropping the money aspect?just about everyone who never won any would agree with you.

winning changes everything however.its a competition.the hobbies top tier growers spend hundreds of dollars researching and perfecting there craft. why not reward the growers of top entries/ after all it is called THE GREAT PUMPKIN COMMONWEALTH for a reason.

pap

9/3/2012 7:23:15 PM

Massachusetts

I'm with ya bry, just want the ribbons, the money is the bonus, long after the money is spent, you can always look up on the wall and see that ribbon and SMILE! the gpc could reward for all, just charge an entry fee to cover the cost of the ribbons???????

9/3/2012 8:07:39 PM

anytown U.S,A,

yep I guess pap said it best its all about he money and money will kill this sport

9/3/2012 8:24:50 PM

Piqua, Ohio

the weigh offs that pay higher usually have 2 or 3 times the pumpkins as the low payers. It's not killing the sport in Ohio and California!

9/3/2012 9:28:41 PM

Colorado

Who said money,the GPC is foremost about giant pumpkins and squash.Theyre slowly taking on other giant vegetables.If theres lots of interest in other catagories theyll likely take those on.Its a process!!!

9/3/2012 9:37:51 PM

Mulino, Oregon

Joe, you are exactly right. We discuss other veggies/fruits at our meetings however we are all in agreement that we can't move forward with other categories until we get the basic ones mastered, from judging to recognition to record keeping. It's a monumental task at times.

It is not about the money, that's just a bonus. We are doing everything we can to increase world wide exposure of this wonderful hobby. Of course our primary emphasis is on pumpkins, however as we become better organized and disciplined all the way down to the grower level other categories will be recognized.

The GPC consists of a group of gardening enthusiasts that donate their time to this hobby. We only have so much time to devote outside our own family time.

9/3/2012 10:10:23 PM

Mulino, Oregon

A good way to help further this cause is to take on a category such as giant marrows or onions. Develop rules, guidelines and regulations that can be applied to all growers. Start keeping records of all the growers, events and results and then, perhaps, we can bring it into the fold under the GPC umbrella. You will see how time consuming it will be. Take that and multiply it by all the other, as of now,unrecognized categories, and you can see how daunting of a task it can be.

Thanks to a lot of volunteers the GPC and our great hobby are growing on an annual basis. It will take countless additional volunteers (and sponsors) to continue this growth into the future.

We welcome all volunteers and ideas and perhaps, some day, the GPC will be THE recognized officials for world record fruits and vegetables!

Thank you for your time.

Jim Sherwood, Treasurer & West Coast Representative
Great Pumpkin Commonwealth

9/3/2012 10:19:28 PM

Glosta

I will contact my rep and the entire GPC but I posted on here to see who else thought it was a good idea. I can bring ideas to the GPC daily but with out backing who would listen. If other categories need to be tracked I'm willing to step up and do the leg work. I know you operate on a volunteer basis and I think thats great. But as far as mastering the categories that I don't understand. As a grower I have seen very little changed in the past 4 years in the pumpkin squash categories. I think these are pretty mastered ( just an opinion) promotional wise has been the only real change, NYBG displaying and RTI sponsorship being the main changes. You have set a standard for Giant pumpkins and that can be migrated to other categories. You all ready offer best in class awards for the master gardener vegetables.

The rules for entries for Cabbage, sunflower, swede, canteloupe, beetroot, tall corn, carrots and parsnips are on your site. So the judging end would need to follow these rules.

9/4/2012 8:43:13 AM

Glosta

Pap I completely under stand your point of view, I never said to take away the awards for the winners. I was just merely asking who would like to see the GPC add more veggies to there list of recognized vegetables and see an end of year best overall ribbon. Not to take money from the mouth of the winners. I have won 3rd place and won money from SNGPG virtual weigh off, and yes winning money is great.

The money aspect was brought up as adding higher payouts. most weigh offs dont pay for melons or field pkns yet they get weighed and documented, the growers bring them for the weight and the joy of bringing them. Tell me a guy bringing a 50# field pkn actually thinks he can win overall with a WR of 162 sitting on the books.

9/4/2012 8:59:47 AM

Wi

Bry don't take this the wrong way, but at the end of the day it's all about the giant pumpkins. That said most of us as well as the pumblic attending the events think the minor categories like long gourds for example are "pretty neat." I mean how can you say a 10' long gourd is boring? Same with a big mellon.

But at the end of the day everyone flocks to the pumpkins. I'd guess 95% (maybe more like 99%) or more of grower / public interest is the pumpkins. Not squash....pumpkins. Therefore I feel the GPC does a great job of fueling the majority.

I don't think anyone in the entire upper midwest grows any of the veggies you listed in a competitive manner.

As stated above it's difficult to satisfy everyone.

9/4/2012 11:25:06 AM

Glosta

Chris what about the growth of the hobby. when the pumpkins plateau and 1800 is just another year, what then? It will be too late to start expanding. Grow while you can not when you have too. Now yes i'm not no WR grower and winning is not why i do this and perhaps i look out for everyone's interest too much. but I just thought it would be a good idea.

9/4/2012 11:34:05 AM

Madison,Wisconsin

I would love to see the cantaloupe come back as an official GPC category. They are easy and fun to grow, don’t take up much space, and you can even eat your failures. :) The WR of 64 pounds seems achievable too as Jake grew a couple in the upper 50’s and had one split that would have been in the 60’s. There seems to be quite a bit of interest as shown by the 1,616 posts in the cantaloupe category, that’s more than three times the field pumpkin posts. Another alternative would be for somebody to start up a new grower organization for just the so called “Minor giant veggies”. I remember Week’s seed company running a contest with some pretty serious money for the smaller veggies back in the 90’s. If there are contests people will grow them.

9/4/2012 4:43:26 PM

Long Island,New York

Obviously Chris S has never grown a squash.

9/4/2012 5:07:11 PM

Wi

Bry it's not that I don't like to see growth, but the GPC is the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth. As stated above and many other times they can only do so much. They put in WAY WAY too many hours the way it is.

There are many options. As stated above maybe a stand alone organization for the minor categories. But then again who's going to put the time and effort into running such an organazation?

Again Bry no harm intended, but it's tough to lay it all on the GPC.

And trust me I'm about ready to start growing squash, mellons, field pump / whatever....at this point....lol.

9/4/2012 5:23:47 PM

Glosta

I wasn't laying it all on the GPC. In my responses i said I would collect the data from the sites, but since they are the governing body then they would need to be the regulating and awarding entity. And if they are the "Great Pumpkin Commonwealth" as you say. Why recognize squash, melons, lgs and tomatoes? Kinda defeats their name already. Am I wrong?

9/4/2012 8:30:21 PM

Wi

You are not wrong Bry.

9/4/2012 9:47:56 PM

Rhode Island

unfortunately all volunteer organization like the GPC can only do so much for the masses.they put forth a lot of work on our behalf each and every year. ie-look at the work they put in just to hold that event in vegas last year?

there will always be great ideas and suggestions thats for sure. hell i like the idea of pumpkin go cart (soap box style) racing but that does not mean its going to happen any time soon-lol

the problem comes in when you have to govern all these catagories.its a really big task. a lot bigger that just making a few rules and posting them-for sure.

pap

9/5/2012 10:15:13 AM

Piqua, Ohio

Look at the GWG they are a new club that pays the top 20 growers with club money raised from seed sales membership dues and a bunch of hard work from several different people. If enough are interested try starting an international veggie club just have members weigh at a GPC site. I take melons and lopes to weigh offs that don't pay prizes but are happy to weigh it for you. I'd be interested in something like that as I grow anything that gets big for our county fair.

9/6/2012 4:27:54 PM