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South Dakota

I hear all these great stories of people taking their pumpkins to their state Fair. All i can say, is that they have never taken 1 to the S.D. state fair. I drove over 2 hours for them to tell me to wait a couple hours or so and we will get it unloaded. After finally unloaded, they stuck it outside the hort building because they didnt want something that big in the building. After the fair was over, I drove back to pick up my pumpkin. It was completely destroyed. It had holes punched all the way through, people wrote all over it, and most of the outer skin was scrapped off. I thought no big deal, i wonder what I got on my 1139. I asked, and they told me nothing. They didnt have a class for it. I didnt even get a ribbon. People were walking out of the hort building with big best of show plaques, and I got nothing!! Maybe I am over reacting, but alot of work and 150 dollars in gas to get nothing doesnt make me happy! I didnt even make the local paper! Maybe I am just upset because of the year I am having. I guess there is always next year! Please let me know if I am over reacting. I apretiate you guys letting me vent my anger! lol! Kevin

9/7/2006 11:35:30 PM

Whidbey Island

Sorry to hear of your bad experience. I don't know about over reacting, but I think we can all learn something.

Never leave a 'kin in an unsupervised area, people just think it is OK to tear it up. It probably is wise to know up front if your 'kins will be accepted in at least a squash category. And if you are going for cash prizes, go to an official weigh-off, not to the county/state fair.

And as you said, "there is always next year".

9/7/2006 11:51:45 PM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

You would think the people of South Dakota would be more proud to look at it as being from their state......I just do not no these days, if they were challenged to grow one that large they would have more respect for the one on display. Maybe an electric fence or electrified pumpkin around the parimiter or on the fruit is on the agenda for next years bigger one just as a do not touch deterrent.lol

9/8/2006 5:53:29 AM

ENGLAND

Kevin. I do not think you are over reacting at all, if anything you are under reacting and been real calm about what happened. I would have gone absolutely balistic at the organisers of the Fair for allowing the public to decimate something that was not their property. Maybe a combination of too much beer and a disbelieving idiot decided to see if your Pumpkin/s were real or not and hacked away. As for not getting any deserved recognition by the Fair Organisers or the Press i think you should contact the Newspaper that covered any article on the Fair and give them your oppinions and what happened to your Pumpkin/s. They may not want to give you space in the Newspaper but at least they will be aware of how you feel and the deliberate vandalism. I am starting to get mad here so i will stop right there.

Regards
Mike

9/8/2006 7:17:41 AM

No Place Special

All the pumpkins at Iowa fair were destroyed in the same way this year. It sucks!

9/8/2006 11:37:14 AM

ENGLAND

What would happen if those of you that have had Pumpkins badly damaged or destroyed at the local County or State Fair decided not to attend the Fair again. Would the Organisers be dissapointed or would they just shrug their shoulders and not give a damn that the Giant Pumpkins, and their Growers, did not turn up again.

Regards
Mike

9/8/2006 12:12:25 PM

Sioux Falls, SD [email protected]

I'm embarrassed by my state today
I'm complaining to fair board:

Manager [email protected]

Business Manager [email protected]

Events, Entertainment, Marketing & Sponsors [email protected]

Accounting & Contracts [email protected]

Vendors/Concessions, Webmaster & Volunteers [email protected]

Camping, Livestock & Static Entries [email protected]

Maintenance & Off-Season Events [email protected]

9/8/2006 12:30:39 PM

Buffalo, MN ([email protected])

Kevin, sorry to hear about your St Fair experince. The MN St Fair takes it serious, all pumpkins are stored inside, there is an attendant during the day and locked up at 10:00 PM. I wanted to bring the one with the mouse hole and display it outside the hort building and they said no no no. I had six on display throught the area last year and only one was damaged in front of Wal-Mart, considered myself lucky.

Kevin, it helps to make the news known, email the news stations, newspapers etc several days ahead to what is about to happen. Once one runs with it they all want some angle of it.

You grew some fantastic pumpkins this year, I enjoyed your diary so don't let a few nuckle heads ruin your season.

Bill

9/8/2006 12:37:23 PM

Montoursville, PA

This makes me absolutely insane. Therefore I will say no more. So sorry for you.

9/8/2006 12:43:23 PM

ordinary,VA

WOW!!
Kevin i dont think you are over reacting at all.
In fact you are by far a better man than me.cause i would have made the newspaper and local news and the local jail all in the same day.
Doc said it best.
ABSOLUTELY INSANE...

9/8/2006 3:55:13 PM

Long Island,New York

This is why I don't allow myself to have a gun. People suck.(ok,ok,...some people suck...but theres a really really lot of them.)

9/8/2006 5:10:58 PM

Puyallup, WA

We have made friends with Hort. Dir. here at the Puyallup
Fair. We are treated well.....as is our pumpkins. It pays to make friends.

9/8/2006 9:32:04 PM

[email protected]

Kevin,

3 words of solution: "Giant Pumpkin Commonwealth"

Words of support: I am proud of your accomplishment & sorry for your senseless suffering.

I would refer the fair organizers to the GPC for their leadership in handling Giants. If this falls on deaf ears (as is often the case), you might wish to find a new weigh-off location. If none exists, you may end up with the distinction of starting one.

This is a great place to find like-minded people who share your vision.

Steve

9/8/2006 10:32:58 PM

South Dakota

Thank you everyone!! I knew you people would understand! I am not one to start wars. I will leave well enough alone. I just will take my pumpkins elsewhere. South Dakota does have an official weighoff near Harrisburg, S.D. They are great there and have always treated me well. I just wanted to try the fair experience for once. I do have a couple pumpkins left and I look forward to seeing my friends at the S.D. weighoff. I have cooled down and feel much better now. Thank you everyone! Best of luck to everyone at their local weighoff! May they all go heavy!! Kevin

9/8/2006 11:02:48 PM

White Bear Lake, Minnesota

I think everyone should send information to the fair officials, that Dakota Gary so thoughtfully provided the e-mail addresses for us. Along with some personal thoughts about what happened to his pumpkins.
James

9/9/2006 3:01:42 AM

Hanover,Ontario,Canada

Kevin: So sorry to hear of your experience with a local fair. It is obvious that they do not realize the potential of treating giant pumpkin growers with dignity and respect. I agree with all the suggestions submitted to you and I will voice some of my own to the SD State Fair people. Maybe we can turn this thing into a positive situation for future giant pumpkin exposure. It will also give new growers a warning of what to expect out there in the real world. Thanks for sharing it with us. Dave McCallum, Secretary for the GPC.

9/9/2006 7:52:32 AM