“The GPC and IPGA
rules clearly state the pumpkin must be sound, healthy, and undamaged. Entries must be
free of rot, holes/cracks through to the cavity, chemical residue and serious
soft spots.”
It may simply be one
of those time were the rules need to be refined. As outlined above, it is not
stated at what point, and to what extent, the submission must pass the test of
“rot”. Since internal inspection at this stage is probably impossible, it
would seem that if the submission passes an external test of some sort for
rot, then the submission should stand. Or, if not, clearly state that if at
“any time during the judging process the submission shows signs of {whatever}
the submission will be {handled in such a
manner}”.
I think the part
that scares everyone is it takes a fair amount of time to get one of these
things to competition weight and as the weigh-off time approaches we are
constantly checking and rechecking the standards to make sure we are on
target. If those standards shift even ever so slightly on judging day, it
becomes frustrating.
I agree with
everyone else in that the accomplishment is supreme and my hat is off to you
sir.
-----Original
Message-----
From:
owner-pumpkins@hort.net [mailto:owner-pumpkins@hort.net]On Behalf Of
Brad2julie@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2002 2:09
PM
To:
pumpkins@hort.net
Subject:
Re: INDIANA STATE RECORD
Gentlemen,
First
of all. None of you making these comments as experienced as you may be
were there!!!! I was. I am also a proud board member of the
IPGA. I am also a good friend of Tom Beauty! Tom's effort in
growing this pumpkin was nothing short of incredible. There is no
doubting that. No one in Indiana has even come close to his achievement.
The only reason the at least 4 of the
5 members (The only other member is camping this week and cannot be reached
until Friday) have agreed to not recognize it as a state record is to maintain
the highest level of integrity as a group. So the rest of you understand
what happened, I have a description below of exactly how the events took place
last Saturday.
Last Saturday at Tom's
request we chose to load the pumpkin on the scale using the tarp instead of
our normal lifting device. Also at Tom's request, he wanted to lift the
pumpkin forward and the backward in order to remove the tarp. When we
lifted it forward the judges did their inspection of the bottom. At this
point it appeared to be sound. We then lifted it backward to remove the
remainder of the tarp. When we did so the pumpkin begin leaking large
amounts fluid (1 to 2 gallons approx.) while on the scale. The judges,
and I think rightly so, decided to award Tom first place because during their
final inspection they never saw a hole or leak. For the record, the
judges were a county extension agent and former president of Indiana Vegetable
Growers Assoc. Both were new to the world of giant pumpkins.
Since the pumpkin made it to scale but not off the scale while in a
sound free of rot condition, that is why we (IPGA) have decided to
recognize it as an official weight as the judges did but not as a state
record. The GPC and IPGA rules clearly state the pumpkin must be
sound, healthy, and undamaged.
Entries must be free of rot, holes/cracks through to the cavity,
chemical residue and serious soft spots.
Did the pumpkin make it to
the scale and pass final inspection? Yes, Did it while still on the
scale prove to be healthy, sound, and free of rot? No, as a board we do not
feel that it did.
So now that
is over with, what do we have. Does Tom have his prize money? Yes, all
$1000 of it. Does Tom have an official weight? Yes, even the IPGA
recognizes that. It made it to an official scale. Does Tom have an
official state record? Not with the IPGA but I have already suggested to Tom that
he talk to Ralph Ann our state statistician about having it record by the
state of Indiana as a state record.
We have already as a board discussed
this with Hugh Wiberg. You can expect a clarification on this in the
weeks to come in case a similar situation would ever arise at a national
weigh-off. As far as locally, The IPGA will most likely add a clause that the
pumpkin must weighed and off the scale without showing signs of damage and/or
rot.
For the
record, we have already ask ourselves this question. Was this a pumpkin
damaged in handling? Yes, maybe. However, while it was still on
the scale it came apart and proved not to be sound and free of rot.
Personally, this is the toughest call
as a board member I have ever had to make. I hate being in this
situation. I understand both the need for Tom receiving proper
recognition and the need for the IPGA remaining a group of the highest
integrity. A group that is above reproach. Given this extremely
rare never before heard of case, I feel we have done both.
The group welcomes your suggestions.
Feel free to let us know how you feel.
Brad Walters
IPGA
Site Coordinator
