Springvale man wins annual pumpkin weigh-off
Last Updated: Sunday, October 11, 2009 | 1:43 PM AT
CBC News
Related
External Links
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window)
Alen Aten is the proud winner of the 16th annual Great Pumpkin Weigh-off in Springvale, P.E.I.
His entry tipped the scales at 470 kilograms Saturday, winning him $300 and bragging rights for the year.
The giant cucurbit also earned Aten a fourth-place finish for the heaviest pumpkin in Atlantic Canada at the 25th annual Windsor-West Hants Pumpkin Festival in Nova Scotia on Oct. 3.
It will be cut up to retrieve the seeds, and the rest will likely be used as cattle feed.
About 25 members of the Giant Pumpkin Growers Association participated in the P.E.I. event, which has become a Thanksgiving weekend tradition for many island families.
Association president Gordon Aten said growing conditions haven't been ideal this year. But there were still some impressive entries.
Last year, P.E.I. set a Maritimes record with a 548-kilogram pumpkin grown by Clifford Pickkets of French River.
The title was defeated this year by Bill Northrup of Sussex, N.B., whose pumpkin weighed a whopping 650 kg.
Share Tools
Latest Prince Edward Island News Headlines
- Liquor store discussion heats up legislature
- The Opposition raised questions in the provincial legislature Friday over the decision to close the Wood Islands liquor store. more »
- EI rules will hurt primary trades, says P.E.I. premier
- While reaction continues to brew over Thursday's announcement about changes to the Employment Insurance program, P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz says provincial officials will be meeting with the federal government to discuss how the new rules will affect Islanders. more »
- HST to hit low-income earners hardest
- Although the proposed harmonized sales tax is good for business, it will hit low-income Islanders the hardest when it's rung in next April, said economists. more »
- Charlottetown businessman named to Order of Canada
- Charlottetown's Fred Hyndman was inducted as a member of the Order of Canada Friday. more »
Top News Headlines
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- The husband of a Toronto woman who died trying to climb Mt. Everest on Saturday says his family is not seeking government help to cover the cost of bringing his wife's body home. more »
- Henrique's OT goal sends Devils into Stanley Cup final
- The New Jersey Devils will vie for a potential fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history after completing a six-game series win Friday night over the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference final, courtesy of rookie Adam Henrique's goal early in overtime. more »
- Employment Insurance review boards to be scrapped
- The federal government is scrapping two review boards used by people appealing decisions made about their employment insurance. more »
- Teens share bullying tales in confession booth
- Raw stories about bullying emerged when a video booth was set up inside a Quebec high school. more »
- EI rules will hurt primary trades, says P.E.I. premier
- P.E.I. quality of life second-worst, says study
- HST to hit low-income earners hardest
- 902 numbers running out in N.S., P.E.I.
- Islanders worried over EI changes
- Charlottetown businessman named to Order of Canada
- Atlantic Lottery replacing old VLTs
- Tourism P.E.I. handed out $60,000 in free golf passes
- Red Shores Raceway's fastest horse put down
