Minnesota Teacher Wins Worldwide Competition with Largest Pumpkin

Each year there are many contests to see who can grow the largest pumpkin. There are state-wide competitions, nationwide competitions, and worldwide competitions. And a teacher from Anoka, Minnesota just competed and WON in a worldwide competition!

The teacher's name is Travis Gienger. KARE 11 writes that Travis is a horticulture teacher so it makes sense that he would win a competition like this. He obviously knows what he's talking about! He grew a massive pumpkin this year and then took it all the way to California to be weighed for the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off.

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Winner of the 49th Annual World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off

This isn't the first time that Travis has competed in this weigh-off, he won in 2020 as well. But this year he really outdid himself because his pumpkin weighed in at almost 400 pounds heavier than the winner of 2021.

How Big is the Largest Pumpkin in the US?

Travis' pumpkin weighed in at a whopping 2,560 pounds and won him the competition! That's crazy! But what's super crazy is that he barely got first place because a pumpkin grown in New York weighed in just 4 pounds under his. That 2,560 pounds broke the record as the largest pumpkin in the US.

How Big is the Largest Pumpkin in the World?

But did Travis get the title of the largest pumpkin in the world? No, but he was pretty close. The current holder of the Guinness World Record for the largest pumpkin is one that was grown in Italy and weighed in at 2,702 pounds in 2021. Based on Travis' track record, though, maybe we'll see him break that world record one of these years.

If you want to find the perfect pumpkin for your house, keep scrolling for some of the best spots in southeast Minnesota.