A grower from Ontario, Jeff Warner, had his 1,711-pound pumpkin disqualified from the Port Elgin Pumpkinfest weigh-off due to a soft spot discovered on the giant vegetable. Despite being aware of the strict competition rules regarding entry conditions, Warner decided to make the nine-hour journey to the fair with his massive pumpkin in tow.
Warner mentioned that a small soft spot, the size of a loonie, appeared on the pumpkin a week before he cut the stem. He attempted to mitigate the issue by scraping at the spot along the way, but the hole continued to expand during pit stops, ultimately leading to disqualification upon arrival at the festival.
Although disappointed, Warner accepted the judge’s decision that the hole exceeded the allowable size for qualification. The winning pumpkin weighed 1,542 pounds, almost 170 pounds lighter than Warner’s entry. Despite not claiming the top prize, Warner expressed satisfaction with the effort put into cultivating his giant pumpkins each year.
Even though his pumpkin did not win, Warner mentioned that it continues to attract attention at the fair, with families stopping by to admire and take photos with it. He revealed plans to transport the pumpkin to a polar bear habitat to serve as food for the animals, giving the giant gourd a second purpose after the competition.