Here are the final results of the 2005, 4th Annual Big Sky Giant Pumpkin Growers Weigh Off:

Competition Division		WT
1st	Rick Maggi (Idaho)	743
2nd	Rick Maggi (Idaho)	696
3rd	Mike Violette	563
4th	Kim Thomas	421
5th	Allen Sperry	382
6th	Barbara LePoidevin (Idaho)	381
7th	William Brown	369
8th	Len Ballek	323
9th	Jim West	300
10th	Larry Johnson	286
11th	Cathy Ballek	223
12th	Sean West	206
13th	Laurie Blinn	89
Exhibition Division		WT
1	Rick Maggi (Idaho)	637
2	Kim Thomas	216
3	Kim Thomas	212
4	Val Misiewicz	123
5	Jim Bailey	122
6	Marty Knox	95
7	Bob Bailey	85
8	Gant Massey	83
9	Gant Massey	37
10	Adam Cook	34
Children’s Division		WT
1	Patrick LePoidevin (Idaho)	313
2	Amy Maggi (Idaho	254
3	Khyley & Tiffani Haugen	231
4	Kiana Ballek	223
5	Tanner Thomas	201
6	Jade Thomas	175
7	Zane Wilson	79
8	Hudsyn DiBrito	69
9	Dan Cook	56
10	Hunter DiBrito	42

Tad Kolwicz' Guess the Weight 248
Judges Choice: Most Deformed - Allen Sperry’s 382
Best Nick Name - Larry Johnson’s “Led Weight”,
raised on Led Zeppelin music!


Big Sky Giant Pumpkin Growers’ Historical Stats:2002: our first event, 12 entries from 8 growers ranging from 2lbs to 186lbs, for an average of 109.5 lbs.

2003: 34 entries from 30 growers (25 1st time growers!), ranging from 7lbs to 500lbs for an average weight of 162.5. Amazingly, 10 pumpkins were over 200lbs!

2004: 39 entries from 23 growers, 18 1^st time growers (including the winner!), ranging from less than 1lb to 393lbs for an average of 142lbs.

2005: 33 entries from 27 growers, 30% 1^st time growers, ranging from 34lbs to 743lbs for an average of 250.5lbs!! Over 50% of the entries weighed in over 200lbs!

A letter to the most appreciated volunteers in the whole wide world,

Now that the weigh off season has passed us by and our harvest is almost over, I want to take a moment of your time to recap another banner year. Our 4th Annual Big Sky Giant Pumpkin Growers Weigh Off was a great success again but for different reasons, this year. Due to cool, wet weather throughout the spring our Atlantic Giant plants had a rough start; then it got downright hot during the pollination phase that caused more challenges. While many seasoned growers came up empty handed it was a notable year for “PBs” – that is, Personal Bests! Over 66% of our growers attained a pumpkin weight better than their previous personal record.

Unfortunately the weather wasn’t in our favor on our weigh off day as it was mighty wet and mighty cold. As you’d expect our spectator numbers were down but the weather didn’t deter the growers. To my thinking, if they grow one, they will come! Rare is the successful grower of giant pumpkins that does not seek an opportunity to show off their bounty! And show off we did.

We were very pleased to have a couple families from Idaho join our event this year and raise the bar for Montanan growers. This year we set a new site record for heaviest pumpkin as well as set a new Montana State record. With terrific help from a handful of volunteers we conducted the smoothest running event yet.

Thank you one and all for making this all possible,

Kim