On Sept. 27, Tioga County 4-H members auctioned off 20 giant pumpkins at Iron Kettle Farm in Candor, N.Y. Youth participating in the Giant Pumpkin Project had been raising their pumpkins since April and their final activity was to auction the pumpkins off to the highest bidder.
The Grand Champion Pumpkin, raised by Luke Huizinga, weighed in at 365 lbs. and was purchased by Rita Kellogg from Candor. The 4-H Pumpkin Project participants raised a total of 20 pumpkins ranging in weight from 11 to 365 lbs. and sold for an average price of $192 each with the two largest pumpkins selling for a total of $1,225. Two pumpkins purchased by Side Hill Acres in Candor were skated to be professionally carved and on display during the Candor Fall Festival.
Tioga County 4-H Members learned valuable lessons while raising their pumpkins, resulting in a variety of pumpkin sizes and shapes. The 4-H members learned about some of the difficulties in raising giant pumpkins, and some even had to give a go twice since their first attempts didn’t make it due to the wet start to the growing season. Youth learned about growing giant pumpkins and how to market such large gourds to the public.
The 4-H Giant Pumpkin Project would like to thank all those who supported this very exciting and educational activity. They would like to thank Iron Kettle Farm in Candor for providing an excellent venue for the auction, and LeRoy Hottle for his engaging role as auctioneer on Sept. 27. They also would like to thank all the bidders who attended the auction and the following who successfully purchased the pumpkins; Rita Kellogg, Andy Fagan, Iron Kettle Farm, Donna Diles, Tioga Downs and Pat Giovanoni, Lillian Henry, and Rita Quinlan.
If you are interested in joining this exciting and ever popular 4-H Project, call Cornell Cooperative Extension Tioga County at (607) 687-4020 for more information about participating in the 2016 4-H Giant Pumpkin Project.
4-H is a unique, informal educational program that supplements training received in home, school, church and other youth-serving agencies. Open to all youth aged five to 19 years of age, 4-H utilizes a real-life work experience where the individual sets his or her own goals for achievement.
To learn more about 4-H in Tioga County, call Cornell Cooperative Extension, Tioga County at (607) 687-4020.
