Southern Ohio Giant Pumpkin Growers

  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
SOGPG Contest Rules

GPC Sanctioned Site Rules & Regulations for Giant Pumpkins and Squash

Please note: In order for your pumpkin and/or squash to be unloaded properly, it must be on a standard 4 way-pallet.

1. Membership to the Southern Ohio Giant Pumpkin Growers is open to everyone. Club Dues are $20/year and must be paid in full by September 30, 2009 to compete in the weigh-off. Dues paid October 1, 2009 or later will be $25.

2. Only one entry per person per category with a maximum of two entries per family. One cash prize per family per class. Second entry will receive the appropriate plaque/ribbon but the prize money will be passed down one notch. A child over 18 who resides with parents and grows his/her own entry will be considered a separate family.

3. All pumpkins/squash will be weighed in the same class. The grower can enter 2 fruits in this class (3rd and others will be exhibition only for official weight). One prize in the heaviest category but eligible for the "Howard Dill" award (true pumpkin) and/or "True Green Squash" award on the 2nd fruit. GPC guidelines to apply on question of color.

4. Entries will be judged by weight alone.

5. Vine must be pruned to within 1" of stem.

6. Entries must be free of foreign matter. Captan, wax, lemon pledge, and grafting wax must be washed from pumpkins for the health and safety of lifters.

7. Entries must be in good sound condition. All entries must be free of rot, holes and/or cracks through to cavity, chemical (fungicide) residue, and serious soft spots. Disqualified entries may be weighed for "exhibition" only.

8. Entries must be grown by the exhibitor. Growers do not have to be present if health, age, etc. prohibits. Must be approved by the site coordinator, Tony Vanderpool, prior to registration.

9. Judges decisions are final.

10. In situations where there are ties, prize money will be split equally.

11. Entries cannot have been weighed at any other weigh-off.

12. No frozen or preserved entries will be permitted.

13. Lowe’s, the Southern Ohio Giant Pumpkin Growers, and the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth will not be responsible for any injury or accident associated with the pumpkin weigh-off.

14. For anyone with a pumpkin or squash over 600lbs., please plan to donate 100 seeds to the Southern Ohio Giant Pumpkin Growers. The seeds will be used to raise money for the club. Seeds from Cantaloupes, Long Gourds, Tomatoes, and Watermelons would also be appreciated.

15. A Weigh-Off Entry Form is required for each entry. If an entry does not have a Weigh-Off Form, the entry will not be counted toward prize money nor submitted to the GPC.

Rules for Watermelons Long Gourds, Tomatoes, and Cantaloupes

Long Gourds
1. Competition for long gourds is strictly for length.

2. To obtain a measurement for a long gourd it must be on a flat surface that will support the entire length of the specimen.

3. No part of the stem will be considered in the total length of the specimen.

4. Only metal tape measures will be used in measuring, cloth or fabric measuring devices are not permitted.

5. Measurements will run in a straight line from the base of the stem were it connects to the specimen and follow to the blossom end. Only vertical length is to be measured, no curvature will count as additional length.

6. All specimens must be whole, no segmented gourds will be allowed.

7. Long gourds will crack their outer skin from growth spurts; these cracks will be acceptable for competition.

8. Long gourds will discolor and will show signs of fungus as they dry, these are natural occurrences thus make them acceptable for competition.

9. All specimens are subject to inspection by the sites appointed Judges.

10. Entries must be grown by the exhibitor. One entry per exhibitor and 2 per family will be accepted for competition. Any person or family may bring more than the specified amount for exhibition as long as the site gives them approval to display them.

11. All gourds must be entered at a GPC sanctioned weigh-off site on the date the site is scheduled to conduct their event to be eligible for recognition.

12. Judges decisions are final.

Tomatoes
1. All tomatoes must be healthy; a healthy tomato must be free of significant soft spots or leakage.

2. Skin may be cracked but not leaking.

3. Tomato weights must be reported in pounds and ounces to 2nd decimal place. (ie: 6 pounds 5.53 ounces)

4. Stem must be cut within .5 inches of the specimen.

5. Green fruit will be allowed for weigh-off purposes.

6. Specimen must be weighed on a certified scale.

Watermelons and Cantaloupes
These categories will be judged by using the same rules as Giant Pumpkins.

Seeds donated from Cantaloupes, Long Gourds, Tomatoes, and Watermelons would be appreciated. The seeds will be used to raise money for the club.

 
 
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