All I can say is WOW, WOW, WOW!
On Saturday, 9/20, we staged the 2nd Annual Bitterroot Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off in Hamilton, MT - and what an event it was! All aspects of this event exceeded my expectations - the weather, the crowd, the pumpkin entries, and did I mention the pumpkin entries?

Congratulations to Len Ballek for growing a monster at 500Lbs!!!

Len grew the new Montana State Record for 2003. Will he be able to defend his title next year?

Last year we staged our first event and were thrilled with 12 entries from 8 growers for an average of 109.5 lbs. All tolled, 2003, we had 30 growers (25 1st time growers!), 34 pumpkin entries ranging from 7lbs to 500lbs for an average weight of 162.5. Amazingly, 10 pumpkins were over 200lbs!


Competition Class

Place Name Weight

1 Len and Kiana Ballek 500
2 Mike Violette 446
3 Kim and Mike Thomas 410
4 Mike Violette 348
5 Tad Kolwicz 335
6 Mason Simmons 325
7 Annalivia Bishop 309
8 Don Coon 309
9 Tanner Thomas 291
10 Diane Kenski 253
11 Elise Estus 188
12 Jane and Steve Stoll 167
13 Brit Brintnall 162
14 Sedona Gaudin 136
15 Pat Sweeney 125
16 Kathleen Freeman 118
17 Dave Moak 112
18 Clarence Fogel 99
19 Khyley and Tiffany Haugan 89.5
20 Laurence Dempsey 86.5
21 Pat Fosse 80.5
22 David and Tanya Stickler 77.5
23 Henry and Helen Garber-Madeen 74
24 Laurie Blinn 68
25 Adin Kloetzel 64.5
26 Cindy King 60.5
27 Chance and Lily Sage 60
28 David and Tanya Stickler 42
29 Laurie Blinn 41
30 Thelma Wesson 39.5

Exhibition Class
1 Shawn Keele 77
2 Chris Fisk 12.5
3 Tyler Coorough 11
4 Amber Ibey 7.0

Honorable Mention Category
Kim Thomas – for the prettiest pumpkin
Chris Fisk – for traveling the furthest: 185 miles