Travis Gienger Claims Fifth Victory at California Weigh-Off
Minnesota grower Travis Gienger won the 53rd World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in California for the fifth time, taking home the grand prize with his entry named "Rocky". The massive pumpkin weighed in at 2,389 pounds on Monday at the event in Half Moon Bay, making it the heaviest entry in the official competition.
Organizers and attendees watched as Rocky measured 138 inches side-to-side, 131.5 inches end-to-end, and 231 inches around. Gienger earned a prize of $900 per pound, totaling $2,151 for his efforts.
Dimensions and Previous Records
While Gienger secured another major title, his champion produce did not break the existing world record. The current verified world record stands at 2,856 pounds, set on October 3 by a British grower. Additionally, an uncertified entry by a Rhode Island grower weighed in at 3,156 pounds on Saturday, though certification details remain unconfirmed.
Gienger's historical record in the competition includes several notable entries:
- 2024: Rudy - 2,471 pounds
- 2023: Michael Jordan - 2,749 pounds (a world record at the time)
- 2022: Maverick - 2,560 pounds
- 2020: Tiger King - 2,350 pounds
Headed to Anoka for Carving
Following the competition in California, the giant fruit traveled to Anoka, Minnesota—known as the Halloween Capital of the World. The oversized pumpkin is currently on display at Anoka City Hall and is scheduled to be carved into a massive jack-o-lantern by weight and size.
A similar event occurred in 2022, when Gienger's winning entry named Maverick was carved into a record-making jack-o-lantern at the same municipal location. The World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off itself originated in 1974 as a friendly rivalry between Half Moon Bay and Circleville, Ohio, to determine who could cultivate the largest specimen.
Sources: FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, USA Today, KOAT, WCIV.
