Top 10 Weigh-Off Winners Celebrate
The Pumpkin Festival weigh-off brought in 21 entries, top 10 winners and Bill Neptune winning the King Pumpkin title.
Five-time winner Neptune, from New Concord, said it felt amazing to win the King Pumpkin title. Initially he thought his pumpkin would only weigh around 1,700 pounds, and after losing three of his pumpkins during the season, he brought his one remaining pumpkin, which claimed the title.
“We’re just thrilled that we’re here on the podium and we were lucky enough to win,” he said.
Neptune said growing the pumpkins in this summer’s weather was tough, and Ohio weather is also a challenge because it’s hot and dry, and then cold and wet.
Neptune has been coming to the festival for about 25 years because he’s close by and has a lot of family here. The last time he won King Pumpkin was in 2023.
Neptune started his hobby 30 years ago when he grew a 200 lb. pumpkin and got hooked. This year’s 1,952 lb. King Pumpkin is the heaviest pumpkin he’s entered at the festival for his five victories.
“You get to know the whole pumpkin community,” he said. “People from all over the world, and so we’re competing against each other. It’s fun to compete against people that you know, and they encourage me. I encourage them, and we help young growers. I just like the idea of being competitive at something right now at my age.”
The King Pumpkin winner receives $2 per pound. Neptune collected $3,904. Ben McMillin at second place won $2,000 and Jerry Rose Jr. at third place won $1,250.
The top 3 Pumpkin Festival weigh-off winners receive a cash prize for their pumpkins Wednesday evening, Bill Neptune, Ben McMillin, center, and Jerry Rose. (Barnesville Area News photo)
From King Pumpkin winner in 1996 with his 525 lb. pumpkin to weighmaster, Dean Wehr said the weigh-off was awesome and the weather cooperated. He noted a lot of new growers entered the competition this year.
The top ten winners included:
Bill Neptune – New Concord – 1,952
Ben McMillin – Salem – 1,948
Jerry Rose Jr. – Huntsburg – 1,737
Adam Momirov – East Canton – 1,591
Erik Gunstrom – Harrison City, PA – 1,579
Belmont Correctional Institution – St. Clairsville – 1,165
Bexlee and Gatlin Powell – Barnesville – 1,104
Patrick St. Clair – Lore City – 914
Derek Crabtree – Circleville – 890
Augustine Boyle – New Lexington – 768
The top 10 winners of the Pumpkin Festival weigh-off total 13,648 lbs. of pumpkins.
For second place winner Jerry Rose of Huntsburg, the Pumpkin Festival is a familiar face. He was repeat King Pumpkin winner in 1993 and 1994.
This is Crabtree and Boyle’s first time competing in the weigh-off, managing to secure ninth and tenth place, as well.
The Pumpkin Festival weigh-off is Great Pumpkin Commonwealth (GPC) certified, and Kanawha Scales and Systems certifies the scale to weigh the pumpkins. Wehr said growers come from all over. He added the festival falls in the right time of the growing season, which is a plus!
“I enjoy anticipation of what’s coming next on Wednesday night,” he said.
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