RALEIGH, N.C. – West Virginia has a new state record for the largest pumpkin ever recorded.
The new record – a whopping 2,244.5 pounds – was set on Tuesday in Raleigh, North Carolina, during the North Carolina State Fair, by Craigsville-grower Albert Rodebaugh. Albert bested the previous record of 2,206 pounds set in 2024, by his son, Chris Rodebaugh. In addition to being the largest pumpkin ever grown in the Mountain State, Albert’s pumpkin also set a brand new site-record for the North Carolina State Fair.
Tuesday’s weigh-in featured a special competition, sanctioned by The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth – an international organization which promotes the growing of giant vegetables. In addition to the giant pumpkins, Tuesday’s weigh-in also featured giant watermelons.
Albert’s winning pumpkin was grown from a “2144 Barron” seed, provided by Michigan grower Don Barron. The day’s second-largest pumpkin – weighing in at a massive 2,114.5 pounds – was grown by Terry Nelson of Thomas, West Virginia. The “Howard Dill Award” for best looking pumpkin went to Steve Hall of Covington, Virginia, for his 1,511.1 pound behemoth…