Travis Gienger Wins Pumpkin Weigh-Off in California

Travis Gienger, a horticulture teacher from Anoka, Minnesota, won the 51st Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California, with a pumpkin weighing 2,471 pounds, narrowly beating his closest competitor by 6 pounds. Despite falling short of his own world record of 2,749 pounds set last year, Gienger expressed satisfaction with his achievement given the challenging weather conditions this year, including record rainfall. He named his pumpkin 'Rudy' to reflect his struggles during the growing season, drawing inspiration from the movie about underdog Daniel 'Rudy' Ruettiger. Gienger traveled 35 hours to California with the pumpkin, which will be featured at a Halloween event in Southern California for professional carving. The competition attracted growers from across the country, showcasing the community and tradition surrounding this annual event.