Travis Gienger Wins Pumpkin Championship Again

Travis Gienger, a horticulture teacher from Anoka, Minnesota, has secured his title as the champion of the 51st World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California, with a pumpkin weighing 2,471 pounds, beating his closest competitor by six pounds. Despite his victory, Gienger's pumpkin fell short of the world record he set last year at 2,749 pounds. He attributed the slightly lower weight to challenging weather conditions, including a cold and rainy fall. Gienger's family transported the massive gourd over 35 hours to the competition, and it will be featured in a Halloween carving event in Southern California. The event is part of a larger tradition of pumpkin-growing competitions that attracts enthusiasts dedicated to cultivating giant produce, often as a costly hobby rather than a profitable venture.