An Anoka, Minnesota, educator is getting a lot of attention for his award-winning giant pumpkin.
The gardening teacher is still the reigning champion of the contest held in Half Moon Bay, Calif., Associated Press reported.
The outlet noted that Travis Ginger has won the grand prize for the past four years. In 2022, Breitbart News reported that he set a U.S. record with a 2,560-pound pumpkin.
At the time, he said of his growing up process: “Minnesota has a great mid-year, but the spring in our area is really, really tough. So to do that in Minnesota, that should never happen. It's a Tour de with big wheels. It's like winning against France. You can only hope so, but it worked.”
This year, Ginger won the 51st World Championship Pumpkin Weighing Competition with a gourd weighing 2,471 pounds. In 2023, his other pumpkin weighed 2,749 pounds.
image show Teacher holds prize-winning pumpkin:
In a video clip after the win, the teacher said: said It took more than 30 hours to transport the pumpkins from Minnesota to California.
Giinger explained that he spent a lot of time trying to encourage the pumpkins to grow, but the wet and cool fall may have had an effect.
“It was really, really tough weather, but somehow I kept working. I had to work for this piece, and I was able to get it done in the end, but it was a big deal. “It wasn't something I did,” he explained.
Another pumpkin grower who participated in a recent contest used Ginger used the pumpkin seeds that set a world record in 2023 to grow his giant gourds, ABC 7 reported on Monday.
A woman who attended the event said, “This is the first time I've seen them live one after another. I can't believe it because there are so many,'' and added, “I just think it's amazing.''
Zinger said his giant pumpkin will now be shipped to Southern California, where professional carvers will 3D carve it to celebrate Halloween.
