773 pound pumpkin gives Ben Johnson his fourth title

By Ken Johnston
Editor

While the number of entries were down this year, the weights were up at the 15th Annual Rainy River Valley Giant Pumpkin Festival (RRGPF).
Only 16 pumpkins were entered, down from last years 28 pumpkins, but that was to be expected after the terrible growing season this year. However, last year’s winning weight was 467 lbs., grown by event organizer Eltjo Wiersema. Wiersema had another decent pumpkin this year, weighting 403 lbs. which had him at the top of the leader board with six pumpkins left to weigh.
Of those six, three stood out above the rest. Juane Johnson of Clearbrook, MN., looked like he was going to win it all at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. With less than 30 minutes left to register a pumpkin, three time champion Ben Johnson and his wife Lesley arrived from Kakabeka Falls, ON., each with a big pumpkin. As it turned out Ben’s would be the biggest this year at 773 lbs., Juane came second at 645 lbs. and Lesley third at 601 lbs.
Ben said the winning pumpkin, which earned him the Golden Hoe Award and $1,000 in cash was grown from the seed of the 2006 RRGPF record setting 1,173 lbs. pumpkin. He also noted that he had a much larger pumpkin in his patch but lost it. “It taped out at over 900 lbs.” said Ben.
This was Ben’s fourth time winning the event. His wife, Lesley said, “Ben recently said he never thought as a kid growing pumpkins that he would make money growing them some day.” She also said she taught him everything he knows about the sport!
Ben has become quite serious about gardening and is now the Giant Vegetable Growers of Ontario representative for Northern Ontario. They share information and seeds on growing giant vegetables and have a website at www.gvgo.ca.
Juane received $500 for 2nd and Lesley received $100 for third.
Other prizes
Heaviest Pumpkin grown by a Jr. Grower
1st-Caydence Lundgren, 337 lbs., $100
2nd-Skylar Arpin, 151 lbs., $50
3rd-Hayley Arpin, 133 lbs., $25
Pumpkin nearest 100 lbs.-Jack Elliott, 106 lbs., $50
Pumpkin nearest 200 lbs.-Skylar Arpin, 157 lbs., $50
Pumpkin nearest 300 lbs.-Dale Hughes, 293 lbs., $75
Pumpkin nearest 400 lbs.-Eltjo Wiersema, 403 lbs., $100
Pumpkin nearest 500 lbs.-Eltjo Wiersema, 403 lbs., $100
Hidden Wt.
The hidden weight was 127 lbs., and it was won by Hayley Arpin ($100).
Rookie of the Year went to Wendy Lemmon. For her 20 lb. pumpkin she received the cherished Silver Watering Can Award!
Ugliest Pumpkin went to Eltjo Wiersema
Most Attractive Pumpkin went to Wendy Lemmon
Best Decorated Pumpkin
1st-Eleanor Wiersema and Caydence Lundgren
2nd-Skylar and Hayley Arpin
3rd-Leah Seguin
Oddest Overall Vegetable
1st-Skylar and Jackson Arpin
2nd-Jack Elliott
Distance Award
Ben Johnson of Kakabeka Falls, ON.
Best Pumpkin Pie was baked by Kitty Berube
Best Pumpkin Dessert was baked by Dorothy Wiersema
Guess the weight of a pumpkin was split by four people who guessed the exact weight at 250 lbs.Winning $13.50 each was Zack Tolen, Tristan Armstrong, Ron Hughes and Bruce Ewald.
Tallest Sunflower was grown by Kitty Berube.
Best Sculptured Vegetable went to Skylar Arpin
A special kids under 12 category was added this year. A draw for three prizes of $50, $25 and $20 went to Daylin Pressinger, Caydence Lundgren and Eva Lemmon respectively. A $10 prize for being the closest to 13 lbs. pumpkin went to Justin Pressinger and Wendy Lemmon who tied.
Town Beautification Awards
Rainy River Town Councillor Marilyn McAlister announced the town beautification award winners. Most Attractive House and Yard went to Anne Acree and Also winning for Most Attractive Yard and Vegetable Garden was Elsie Ewald.
Due to the low number of pumpkins the annual seed spitting contest was cancelled as no one wanted to sacrifice a pumpkin to use the seeds for fear it might be a prize winning pumpkin!
Overall organizers were pleased with the turnout by the public and the growers despite the poor growing season.
A special indoors farmers market was held and activities were held for the kids by the local playschool.