This year's prizewinning pumpkin at Fairlight's Annual Pumpkin Weigh-In was a whopping 1,118 pounds and in addition to being the heaviest in the contest's history, the massive entry may qualify for a provincial record. The village's Wilson family--- John, Gillian, Lisa, John and Amanda--- give credit to John's friend and co-worker, Doug Whitehead of Arcola for their success.
"I work with Doug," says John. "He and his mom grow pumpkins and he always wanted to come to Fairlight and enter this. When he found out that I was entering, he said they'd help me grow one."
Team Wilson grew three massive pumpkins, but only one was weighed. "This one actually made it in one piece," says John. "We actually had three about this size. They were too heavy to weigh and one was so heavy, it split."
The winning entry was moved from what a smiling John calls "a secret location" to the Wilson's farm near Fairlight via half-ton truck. From there, it was moved to Fairlight's community hall by skid steer, driven by the Wilson's daughter, Amanda. Too heavy to bring into the hall, the pumpkin was brought up to the hall's widest set of doors by the skid steer to be set on the scales, which were severely tested by the pumpkin's weight.
Fairlight Rec. Board member and 2014 winner, Gillian Wilson says, "I think 800 pounds was the biggest one we've had. It's all in good fun and it's just for bragging rights."
Fellow Rec. Board member and past winner, Jaida Adamson agrees. "I won in 2009 with a pumpkin that weighed 462 pounds. For some growers, seed selection is critical. Some people get seeds from champion growers. For me, plucking the little pumpkin plants off the vine and having lots of fertilizer, lots of water, and lots of luck is also important."
"Covering them when it's cold and cutting them as late as you can helps, too, because they lose weight once you cut them from the vine."
"But it's really just a great fundraiser and a great tradition," adds Adamson, adding that this year, her three-year-old daughter Erica grew a pumpkin for the contest.
"She's pretty excited and telling everyone about her pumpkin."
Joy McKinnon of Spy Hill says of the contest, "It's very secretive. People sometimes show up with a good pumpkin at the last minute."
"It's all for bragging rights," says Adamson. "It's a friendly competition, but it is a competition."
Although a Calcutta is held in the spring, Courtney Fowler of Fairlight says the betting doesn't end there. "It's a lot of fun. There's a lot of side bets and a lot of snooping going on."
This year's event attracted over 200 people from the surrounding area, as well as guests from Argentina, England and Mexico. It is the main fundraiser for the Fairlight Rec Board and helps to fund both the Fairlight Drop-In Centre and the Community Hall.
"Anyone is welcome to attend, whether they enter the contest or just come out for a fun evening," says Gillian Wilson. "It's great to have everyone come out. We appreciate it so much."
"Every year, [the event's] getting bigger and bigger, and so are the pumpkins."
For more information, check out Fairlight Drop In on FaceBook.
