Jim Sherwood of Mulino, Oregon, stands beside his 2,613-pound pumpkin after setting a new Oregon state record Saturday, Sept. 26, at the National Pumpkin Weigh Off at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm in Wheatland. Photo courtesy of National Pumpkin Weigh Off

WHEATLAND, CA (MPG) - A 2,613-pound pumpkin tipped the scales at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm on Saturday, Sept. 26, earning an Oregon grower a new state record and the top prize at the National Pumpkin Weigh Off.

Jim Sherwood of Mulino, Oregon, took first place and a $15,000 prize with his giant pumpkin, nicknamed “SpongeBlob.” The entry broke Oregon’s previous record of 2,469 pounds, set by Steve Daletas in 2018, and was the heaviest pumpkin weighed in the United States so far this competition season, according to event organizers.

“I’m thrilled. That pumpkin gave me quite the ride,” Sherwood said. “Based on its shape, I didn’t think it would last.”

Sherwood, who has been growing giant pumpkins for 25 years, previously won the Wheatland competition in 2024.

A massive carved pumpkin is displayed during the National Pumpkin Weigh Off at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm in Wheatland on Sept. 26. Photo courtesy of National Pumpkin Weigh Off

Mike Alves of Chico took second place with a 2,359-pound pumpkin, beating his previous personal best by more than 650 pounds. His entry also became the heaviest California-grown pumpkin ever entered at the National Pumpkin Weigh Off.

“I doubled the size of my patch this year,” Alves said. “When they start growing 50 to 60 pounds a day, it’s pretty amazing.”

The competition offered more than $100,000 in potential prizes, including $75,000 for the world’s first pumpkin weighing more than 3,000 pounds. The top 20 pumpkins Saturday earned more than $35,000 in combined prize money.

The current world record stands at 2,819 pounds, set last year by the Paton brothers of England.

Seven other giant vegetable categories were also judged, including bushel gourd, long gourd, tomato, sunflower, watermelon, field pumpkin and marrow. Chris Asbury of Bayside broke the California marrow record with a 102-pound entry.

Young growers competed in the Future Farmers division, where nine participants ages 7 to 17 entered giant pumpkins. Oren Muller, 15, of Guinda won the $1,000 top prize with a 1,229-pound pumpkin.

Giant pumpkins surround the stage at the National Pumpkin Weigh Off at Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm in Wheatland on Sept. 26. Photo courtesy of National Pumpkin Weigh Off

Volunteers from the California Pumpkin Growers Club emceed the event and managed weigh-off logistics. The club is part of the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, which establishes standards for competitive weigh-offs and tracks results worldwide.

“The goal of the California Pumpkin Growers Club is to promote the growing of giant pumpkins and other vegetables through friendly competitions and through education of the non-growing public about what it takes to grow these giants,” club chairman Brian Myers said.

Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm owner Wayne Bishop said hosting the competition was a natural fit for the farm and surrounding agricultural community.

“When the opportunity to host one of the most prestigious agricultural contests in the world presented itself two years ago, we gave a resounding yes,” Bishop said.

Bishop’s opened to the public in 1973 as a place for local students to experience an agricultural field trip and now attracts more than 400,000 visitors annually during its mid-August through mid-November season.