This was an awful year for pumpkins to be grown. However, the renowned master of Alaska pumpkins proved once again, that he’s an absolute master within his own field.
Dale Marshall of Anchorage, who holds the record in Alaska for huge pumpkins, arrived during the Alaska State Fair pumpkin weigh-in with two massive gourds on flatbeds.
In the area of loading the livestock barn and crops the fair’s officials, volunteers and even livestock barn’s owners were ga-ga.
“Here is Dale!” someone shouted.
Mardy Robb who has cultivated some huge vegetables for herself, snapped off mid-sentence when she noticed exactly what Marshall had.
“I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but that’s incredible,” she said.
Tension grew when the pumpkins were transferred via forklift.
It turned out that the tines of the forklift were not long enough and the pumpkin was spotted onto its ledge. The gasps were heard from the witnesses. The damage was certain to be devastating. Any pumpkin that has a crack or hole would be rejected.
Marshall maintained his cool and came up with the solution using lumber.
In the past the record-breaking pumpkin of his was 2,147 pounds. He claimed he was not sure if any of his 2023 candidates would be able to match that.
“Uh No,” he said. “No. Seventeen to Nineteen (hundred kilograms) I’m trying to believe. In the right spot.”
The scale indicated that the pumpkin that Marshall had within that range of 1,875 pounds. It was destined to merely “exhibition” status because another one, that was Marshall’s gourd-growing operations in his backyard for 2023, was much larger.
“2,023.5 pounds,”” The emcee’s announcement was made through the speaker.
The crowd was raucous. Marshall was kept in check throughout the day was able to raise both arms to show his the victory.
The silver-medal winner, Keith Malone, grew 600 pounds. It was a personal record however, Malone claims second place is about as the best it gets for him.
“I believe Dale to show up with a huge one each season,” Malone said.
Marshall told the crowd that following the fair, the winning pumpkin will go back to his backyard at Sand Lake for kids to enjoy. He’ll then collect the seeds and give the rest of the pumpkin to the moose.
