Tons and Tons of Pumpkins
With over 30 entries in the large pumpkin category, members of the weigh-off committee were busy Wednesday night checking the weight of each pumpkin.
The top 10 entries ranged in weight from 950- to 1,837-pounds. These entries alone total over 6 ½ tons!
- Derek Crabtree, owner of the Checkered Flag Mini-Donut stand at the festival, who hails from Circleville, Ohio (yes, that Circleville), entered the 6th place pumpkin that came in at 1,195 pounds. He generously donated the giant orb for Gus “Squshcarver” Smithhisler, who returns this year to do his carving magic. Smithhisler will set up shop near the festival entrance. His appearance this year is sponsored by Tiburon Oil and Gas.
- Five-time King Pumpkin winner Bill Neptune of New Concord came in fifth this year with his one remaining pumpkin. His fields were flooded twice during this rainy summer.
- Angelo Mizer from East Sparta grew pumpkins for the first time this year. He has it down pat. His largest entry of 917 pounds took ninth place.
- The inmates of the Belmont Correctional Institution at St. Clairsville nabbed 10th place with a 950-pound pumpkin. Just a week ago, they lost a 1,700 specimen when it split, which is always a possibility. They also compete annually in the Ohio prison’s weigh-off. They dedicated their entry to Brooks Bosworth, 2007 King Pumpkin grower from St. Clairsville, who helped them establish a local growing program.
- Bexlee and Brant Powell of Mt. Olivett Road grew the largest Barnesville entry. They came in seventh with their 1,118 pounder.
The top 10 in descending order:
(1) 1,837 – Jerry Rose, Jr., Huntsburg, OH
(2) 1,830 – Adam Momivov, East Canton, OH
(3) 1,756 – Lance Croyle, Portersville, PA
(4) 1,324 – Ben McMillin, Salem, OH
(5) 1,232 – Bill Neptune, New Concord, OH
(6) 1,195 – Derek Crabtree, Circleville, OH
(7) 1,118 – Bexlee & Brandt Powell, Barnesville, OH
(8) 997 – Adam & Jesse Robinson, Proctor, WV
(9) 971 – Angelo Mizer, East Sparta, OH
(10) 950 – Belmont County Correctional Institution – St. Clairsville, OH
The 11th largest pumpkin, a 948-pound entry by Austin Starr & Nick Biddle, of Waverly, WV, was chosen by the 2026 festival royalty for the award as the most orange entry.
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