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Griffith, In

Thank you Bengsten's Pumpkin Farm and The Illinois Pumpkin Growers for hosting another excellent weigh-off,,,We had a great time, met with some old friends and new ones, and saw some beautiful pumpkins!!!Congrats also to all the participants and Ken Sweet on his winning 1479 pound beauty!!!!

9/30/2012 8:47:18 PM

Joliet, IL

Judy, I would like to personally thank you and John for being part of our gang......John worked his ass off today.......you are great people and great friends and are the reason I love this silly hobby so much. It was a very fun day and we see nothing but a very bright future for this event for years to come with the energy you help to provide. Truly a team effort. So proud of john for his indiana success.....more proud to see his coordination of putting them all safely on the scale.......proud to call you friends.

10/1/2012 12:11:23 AM

Joliet, IL

Another huge shout out to Dan Carlson......he never stopped moving and always had a cool demeanor as he also worked his ass off to pull it all off today........thanks again Dan!!!

10/1/2012 1:35:29 AM

Roselle, IL [email protected]

Special thanks to John & Brexton for slinging all those pumpkins with care..Nice work Dan ..who jumped in and helped organize. A lot of new growers with fire in there bellies to grow big...It was a great day!

10/1/2012 1:02:14 PM

Jacksonville, IL

Glad to help, who wouldn't want to get their hands on about 15000 pounds of pumpkin. Had a great day, beat my personal best and hit the 1000lb benchmark. Can't wait till next year.
Brexton

10/1/2012 8:13:30 PM

Clinton, Iowa

Well thanks Guys... beth and I were looking for something to do and with a 21 day work outage looming on monday I just could not think of a better day to spend driving to Chitown with my wonderful wife. "watching" some very very nice pumpkins hit the scales...it was awesome and I was nice of you guys to let me help out..I had a blast. Meeting the newbie growers is one of my favorite things to do at weigh offs. They are sooooo full and spit and fire and I just get a renewed spark myself... Judy it was real nice to finally get to put a face with the Names I know but had never met. Ken Sweet congrats on a great fruit and to all those others that weighed in something..ANYTHING.....if it got to a scale then you prolly worked your butt off to do it as this season was one for the ages!! take care and good luck to anyone who has another to weigh!
DAN

10/1/2012 8:50:47 PM

Cincinnati,OH

Great job to all involved. Y'all slung alot of pumpkins in a pretty small space.

10/1/2012 9:13:34 PM

Princeton Kentucky

Thanks to Bengstens Pumpkin Farms (Class Act) for an Awesome place. Thanks shazzy, George and just everyone for making the weighoff more than Perfect. So Cool to meet John Barenie and his sister Judy. Congrats to Ken Sweet on the Biggest at Bengstens, (I was being pulled thru the corn maze by my daughter and missed your weigh in..sorry, lol). Cool to see how it all happens and to meet such nice people. Learned that when someone shows up with a Box Truck.... expect somethin Big, lol. Nice bunch of guys out of Michigan and everywhere...Simply put..Enjoyed It. Now shazzy if you guys could destroy the pic with me wearing the crazy orange Hair, lol.

10/2/2012 7:48:00 AM

Joliet, IL

Brexton, Dan, Ron, Joseph....and all who made it happen. Special shout out Georgie and his entire family......it all starts from the top and eventhough he had a pumpkin wrestling mask on at picture time.....he has been the presidential rock Illinois has needed to get this far and beyond. The Janowiaks arethe finest people you will ever meet. I have never felt this strong of a vibe for the future of giant pumpkins in Illinois. I feel so blessed to have the spirit alive and well......hope to see you you all next year.

10/3/2012 4:49:10 PM

Joliet, IL

And another shout out to one of the original illinois giant pumpkin growers who has been there since the beginning and is a cornerstone of the future of this thing we do. Hardest working grower I have ever met and great friend. I am growing the 1135 sliwka next year.....2 side by side greg....it deserves a shot......thanks again bud for making it the success it was.

10/3/2012 5:27:05 PM

Joliet, IL

And how cool were those hand made Bengtsons pumpkins from.the Godftather.........the Godfather, Don VanHoutte is well respected in these parts......Georgie Boy use to trade seeds 14 or so years ago and Don and the Bengtons go back some years. And without Ken Sweet, I wouldn't have grown the 1354....it came off the 1303.....lol. thanks ken for wearing the belt proud. That is all we ask. Funniest thing I remember with me and Ken was him looking me square in the eye and trying to make me listen.....my a.d.d. was strong Sunday.....and I looked him in the eye and said, "I'll try, but I can't promise anything"........lol......and I actually shut up for......10 seconds tops.......doh.....congrats Ken......you guys are part of the dysfunctional family of ours

10/3/2012 8:37:40 PM