Just in time for Halloween, Wisconsin’s heaviest-ever giant pumpkin was recently crowned at a fall festival.
The 2,551-pound Atlantic Giant took first prize at the 2024 River Prairie Ginormous Pumpkin Festival weigh-off in Altoona on Sept. 28. The prize-winning plant was grown by veteran giant pumpkin grower Jim Ford, who grew it in his garden in Eldorado, a town in Fond du Lac County.
Ford’s pumpkin surpassed Wisconsin’s previous heaviest pumpkin ― 2,420 pounds grown by Brian Mathiowetz last year. In fact, Ford’s pumpkin came close to the world record of 2,749 pounds, set last year in California by Minnesota grower Travis Gienger.
“Considering I’m originally from Illinois, it feels really good that I’ve come to Wisconsin to show these guys how to grow a heavy one,” Ford said. “There are a lot of good growers in Wisconsin. It is the most successful giant pumpkin state in the U.S., so to break a record with a bunch of elite growers is a privilege.”