----- Original Message -----
From:
d*@worldnet.att.net
To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
Sent: Monday, October 09, 2000 6:03
PM
Subject: The Buckeye Polinator
1140#
To my fellow pumpkin growers,
I have stayed quietly on the side
lines reading your entries on this pumpkin web page for 2 months I feel now
that the last major contest is done it is time for me to break out & say a
few things.First the Hera thing was about the most tasteless under handed ploy
I have ever heard of, I will refer to you as "it" (I am not sure if "it" is a
guy or girl) because now that H.M.B. is over you "it" never had a pumpkin
anyway (congratulations to Kirk Mombert on your 940#er it looked beautiful)
don't you realize nothing you say or do will ever stop the P.N.W.G.P.G. from
coming to H.M.B.? Next is the question of why I passed up $25,000 in New York,
$5 per pound and a new Ford truck in California. I must admit I pursued taking
my pumpkin to H.M.B. California but I asked my father for advice. He said,
"Remember who brought you to the dance." When I started growing giant pumpkins
I had no idea of what money I could earn, or what prizes I could win. I grew
them because I enjoyed the people in our group and the competition of
weigh-off day. If it were not for these people, I would have had no chance to
grow a world-record pumpkin. It would be far too self-centered of me to take
my pumpkin elsewhere for greater rewards. How could I take my pumpkin
elsewhere when so many people stood behind me and helped me obtain this lofty
mark, to turn my back on them for personal gain? I would like to thank all my
friends in North America who have offered advice and encouragement, and the
biggest thank-you to the people who make up the best group of them all, the
Ohio Valley Pumpkin Growers. A very special thank-you to Tim, Al, Dick, Ron,
and Jack for having the insight in forming the group. If you think I am
biased, you are correct, but if you had anything to do with our group, you
would agree. One last thank-you to the G.P.C. and Hugh Wiberg and the steering
committee for operating the best-run pumpkin organization in the world. I am
proud to say I am a member.
The new world record holder,
Dave Stelts, 1140 lbs.
& the O.V.G.P.G.
