The whopping 900 pound pumpkin that took the top prize at this year’s Pilger Pumpkin Fest pretty much needed its own area code. Carving this one would have required a chain saw and a drill press and would have left the owner with a mighty fine pet shelter or garden shed.
That was just part of the fun on Saturday’s 17th annual Pumpkin Fest held at the Pilger Community Hall and the outside grounds. Along with the traditional horse and wagon rides, provided by Royden Crone, and the exciting bouncing constructions outside, patrons enjoyed endless burgers and desserts with the Pumpkin Fest wristband. There was plenty of space to gather, enjoy music and get set for the evening fireworks.
The winning pumpkin made its way up from Drake thanks to Vic Bergen and the straining leaf springs on his half ton. Organizers had to get creative with the weigh-in by cinching up the gargantuan gourd and lowering it onto the scale with a skid steer.
Bergen didn’t mind sharing his trade secrets around the prize-winner.
“It took a little bit of everything, and it’s a lot of work every day, all summer,” he confessed before the official weigh-in. “Lots of watering, burying lots of vines, pruning lots, and good luck.”
It wasn’t a matter of plentiful rainfall or cranking the hose on. Berger says he carried 12 – 15 five-gallon pails of water every day. Bergen was inspired to load it up and head to Pilger since he wasn’t sure how else he was going to get it weighed.
“This year’s crop of pumpkins were all pretty good pumpkins,” said Festival chair Blaine Frederick, “I thought it was a poor year for growing pumpkins, but obviously I’m wrong by the one that just came in here.” Frederick referred to Bergen’s scale smasher.
“I think the biggest one on the trophy is about 450 pounds prior to this one,” Frederich declared. It may be a few years before festival goers see the likes of Bergen’s award winner.
Junior award winners were Grayson Strem, Adelaide Strem and Preston Hoppe. Runners up to Bergen in the adult category were Matt Rieger and Doreen Dobrohoczki.
People gathered on a beautiful autumn day. Special guests included MP Kelly Block and Batoche MLA Delbert Kirsch, both of whom always enjoy the festivities. Congratulations to all the pumpkin growers and the organizing committee for another blockbuster Pilger Pumpkin Fest.
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