Iowa Pumpkin Grower Obliterates California Record at Half Moon Bay's Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off
 Don Young celebrates record winning 1,658 pound gourd
Don Young with his "Monster from the Midway"
Young shares growing secrets with the media
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Iowa grower Don Young blew out a tire in Wyoming en route from Des Moines but fortunately his burly 1,658-pound gourd made it safely to yesterday's 36th Annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California where he obliterated the field and every giant pumpkin record in the state.
Young, a 45-year old tree trimmer, will be driving home today a happy man with plenty of gas money knowing he dominated the Super Bowl of pumpkin weigh-off contests.
He bested a formidable, veteran field of sixty heavyweight contenders from California, Oregon and Washington to win the coveted title, $9,948 in prize money and a "starring role" in this weekend's Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival where his "Monster from the Midway" will be on display along with the five heaviest pumpkins.
Young, somewhat of a mad scientist, watered his pumpkins at varying temperatures and angles seven times a day, coated the roots with a special imported fungus extract before burying them and took leaf tissue and soil samples to ensure the proper nutrient balance.
The seed from the champion gourd came from one of Young's past behemoths and was cross-pollinated with the descendant of another previous word record holder.
Another record went down with Eda Muller squashing the San Mateo County mark with her beautiful, deep orange 1,200-pounder, pocketing $1,500.
Portola Valley grower Eric Carlson won the audience-judged "Most Beautiful Pumpkin" $500 award based on color, shape and size.
It was Half Moon Bay's deepest field ever with thirteen pumpkins weighing in over 1,000 pounds.
The grand champion gourd along with the top five overall will be proudly displayed at this weekend's Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, October 17-18 (Saturday and Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Main Street in Half Moon Bay, California. Results follow:
2009 WEIGH-OFF RESULTS |
| OPEN DIVISION |
| 1st |
Don Young, Des Moines IA |
1,658 lbs. |
$9,948. |
| 2nd |
Leonardo Urena, Napa CA |
1,470 lbs. |
$2,000. |
| 3rd |
Ron Root, Citrus Heights CA |
1,247 lbs. |
$1,500. |
| 4th |
Brant Bordsen, Marysville CA |
1,218 lbs. |
$1,000. |
| 5th |
Gary Miller, Napa CA |
1,216 lbs. |
$ 500. |
| 6th |
Jim Sherwood, Mulino OR |
1,210 lbs. |
$ 500. |
| 7th |
Eda Muller, Half Moon Bay CA |
1,200 lbs. |
$ 500. |
| 8th |
John Muller, Half Moon Bay CA |
1,187 lbs. |
$ 500. |
| 9th |
Pete Glasier, Napa CA |
1,174 lbs. |
$ 500. |
| 10th |
Joel Holland, Sumner WA |
1,121 lbs. |
$ 500. |
| SAN MATEO COUNTY DIVISION |
| 1st |
Eda Muller, Half Moon Bay CA |
1,200 lbs. |
$ 500. |
| 2nd |
John Muller, Half Moon Bay |
1,187 lbs. |
$ 300. |
| 3rd |
Jerry Bello, Half Moon Bay CA |
977 lbs. |
$ 200. |
| SPECIAL PRIZES: |
| Most Beautiful Pumpkin |
| Eric Carlson, Portola Valley CA |
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$ 500. |
| Biggest from State of California |
| Leonardo Urena, Napa CA |
1,470 lbs. |
$1,000. |
| Biggest from the Coastside (Montara to Pescadero) |
| Eda Muller, Half Moon Bay CA |
1,200 lbs. |
$ 500. |
| Biggest from a San Mateo County Farm Bureau Member |
| Eda Muller, Half Moon Bay CA |
1,200 lbs. |
$ 500. |
 Download 2009 Weigh-Off Results
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