A giant pumpkin grown by Jeff Warner weighing 1,711 pounds was disqualified from the Port Elgin Pumpkinfest due to a small soft spot, despite nearly clinching the top prize. Warner, an Englehart, Ontario grower, acknowledged the uncertainty of winning but decided to participate in the event with his massive pumpkin in tow.
Warner noticed the soft spot on the pumpkin just a week before the competition, equivalent in size to a loonie coin. Fully aware of the stringent competition rules regarding entry conditions, he still embarked on the nine-hour journey to the fair.
Despite attempting to mitigate the soft spot by scraping it along the way, the hole continued to expand with each stop, ultimately leading to disqualification upon arrival at the festival. A judge informed Warner that the hole exceeded the permissible three-inch width for qualification.
Disheartened but understanding of the necessity to adhere to regulations, Warner mentioned that the winning pumpkin weighed 1,542 pounds, significantly lighter than his own impressive creation. He expressed no regrets for the hard work dedicated to nurturing his giant pumpkins year after year.
While his pumpkin didn’t secure the top prize, Warner mentioned that it attracted considerable attention, with families stopping by to admire and photograph the colossal gourd. He revealed plans to transport the pumpkin to a polar habitat a few hours north to feed the polar bears, giving it a second purpose after its disqualification from the contest.