Ben Johnson shatters record at 12th Annual RR Pumpkin Fest

Ken Johnston
Editor

A heavy weight weighed heavy on the minds of the pumpkin festival organizers when they discovered they had an entry that weighed more than their scale could weigh.
With only two pumpkins left to weigh out of 51, and one already tipping the scales at 960 lbs. organizers ran into a wall. The scale they were using only went to 500 kilograms or 1,100 pounds.
Thinking Ben Johnson, 43, of Kakabeka’s pumpkin was smaller than defending champ Don Cronk’s, the weigh team put it on the scale. After reaching 500 kg the scale shut down.
They tried to tare the scale with three men on it to see if it would weigh 500 kg beyond their weight but it did not work.
So they decided to weigh the last pumpkin from Don Cronk of Thunder Bay. “If it weighs we know the other one is heavier and is the winner,” said weigh team member Guy Arpin. “However we would like to have a weight for the record books,” he added.
So they sent spectator Rudy Sinninghe over to Reg Kaus’ place to get a scale he uses to weigh round bales of hay.
Cronk’s pumpkin weighed in at 1,032 lbs. A new festival record, shattering the old one that he held from last year at 945 lbs. But everyone knew who the winner was but just by how much was the $1,000 question!
When the hay bale scale was used the crowd went “Ooooooohhhhhh!” Johnson’s monster pumpkin weighed 1,173 lbs. and earned him $1,000 for first place. Cronk had to settle for 2nd place and $500. Johnson also took 3rd place with his 960 pounder and won $100 for it.
Johnson said the key to his success was good seed, this year’s hot weather, plenty of water and manure. “I watered every chance I had. Sometimes morning, noon and night.” While he did not keep track of the amount of water he gave the 35’X70’ pumpkin patch, he said he often put the hose on and just let it run.
The seed he used was called 1039-Lenard from Whalen, Ontario. “This seed tends to weigh heavy,” noted Johnson. He has been growing giant pumpkins for ten years now and this is his second time winning the RR festival. He won in 2002 with 729 lbs.
Breaking the 1,000 pound barrier was a dream of event founder Dr. Ewen Affleck who no longer lives in Rainy River but surely will be proud of this accomplishment. The first year he held the event in his back yard with about 50 people in attendance. The winning pumpkin was 186 lbs., grown by Gord Olson.
Since that event, the weights have gone up just about every year:
1995-186 lbs.-Gord Olson
1996-295 lbs.-Sheldon Mose
1997-456 lbs.-Ken Trenchard
1998-742 lbs.-Wayne Both
1999-544 lbs.-Don Cronk
2000-691 lbs.-Jim Marken
2001-659 lbs.-Levi Marken
2002-729 lbs.-Ben Johnson
2003-765 lbs.-Kyle Paulson
2004-579 lbs.-Don Cronk
2005-945 lbs.-Don Cronk
2006-1,173 lbs.-Ben Johnson
In the Junior Growers Competition it was Kyle Olson who came in first with 405 lbs. He won $50. His sister Kira Olson came in 2nd with 294 lbs. She won $25. In third it was Damon Short with 251 lbs. He won $10.
New prize categories open to both adult and junior growers were added this year to try and boost the number of entries. Closest to 100 lbs. was Fran Faragher(99 lbs.), 200 lbs.-Ron Lemmon (188 lbs.), 300 lbs.-Kira Olson (294 lbs.), 400 lbs.-Kyle Olson (405 lbs.) and 500 lbs.-Don Hammer (513 lbs.) They each received $100 in prize money.
Other prizes
Hidden Weight was 398 lbs.-Kyle Olson won $100 (405 lbs.)
Tallest Sunflower: Fran Faragher (13’ 8”)
Oddest vegetable: 1st-Vivian Hartnell and 2nd-Inge Szeder
Best Veg. Display: Marion Haddock
Seed Spitting: Adult-Guy Arpin (26’ 1”), Teen-Dylan Spivak (22’ 4”) and 12 and under-Kyle Olson (17’ 1”).
Best Pumpkin Dessert: Dorothy Wiersema
Best Pumpkin Pie: Inge Szeder
Guess the wt. was 315 lbs: Richard Trenchard (312 lbs.)
Distance Award: Carole Spivak of Thunder Bay
Ugliest Pumpkin: Juane Johnson
Best Decorated Pumpkin: 1st-Skylar Arpin, 2nd-Donna Wolanicki and 3rd-Grade 1/2 class (Riverview School).
Most Attractive Pumpkin: Leona Skolen
Rookie Grower of the Year: Roger Spivak of Thunder Bay (905 lbs.)