Weigh-Off Facts | Pumpkin FestivalMiramar Events Home


2008 WEIGH-OFF RESULTS

Half Moon Bay Record Toppled in Pumpkin Weigh-Off
Oregon Grower Wins with 2nd Biggest in the World This Year


Thad Starr with his record-breaking 1,528 lb. win
Thad Starr with his record-breaking 1,528 lb. win

Starr shares his growing secrets with the media
Starr shares his growing secrets with the media

Thad Starr with his record-breaking win
Starr with his gargantuan gourd

Jim Sherwood, Thad Starr and Jack LaRue are all winning growers from the Pacific Northwest
Jim Sherwood, Thad Starr and Jack LaRue
are all winning growers from the Pacific Northwest

HALF MOON BAY, CALIFORNIA, October 13, 2008 – That's a lotta pie. Budding superstar grower Thad Starr, a 41 year old stay at home dad from Pleasant Hill, OR, won today's 35th Annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California for the second consecutive year with a burly 1,528-pound gourd on a picture-perfect morning in this west coast pumpkin mecca. Starr's monster orb is the 2nd biggest pumpkin in the world weighed to date this year.

In just his third year of growing competition pumpkins, Starr won for the second year in a row, taking home $9,168 ($6 per pound) and topping the Half Moon Bay record he set last year. He easily defeated a formidable, veteran field of sixty five heavyweight contenders to win the coveted title and a "starring role" in this weekend's Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival where his colossal curcurbit will be on display along with the top five overall.

Another record went down with local legend "Farmer John" Muller squashing the San Mateo County mark with his beautiful 900-pounder, pocketing $500. Salinas grower Jerry Porter won the audience-judged "Most Beautiful Pumpkin" award based on color, shape and size.

The grand champion gourd along with the top five overall will be proudly displayed at this weekend's Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, October 18-19, 2008 (Saturday and Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Main Street in Half Moon Bay, California. Results follow:


2008 WEIGH-OFF RESULTS
OPEN DIVISION
1st Thad Starr, Pleasant Hill OR 1,528 lbs. $9,168.
2nd Leonardo Urena, Napa CA 1,404 lbs. $2,000.
3rd Joel Holland, Puyallup WA 1,262 lbs. $1,500.
4th Jim Sherwood, Mulino OR 1,260 lbs. $1,000.
5th Ben Fillmore, Ukiah CA 1,205 lbs. $  500.
6th Lee Hudson, Napa CA 1,168 lbs. $  500.
7th Pete Glasier, Napa CA 1,081 lbs. $  500.
8th David Miller, Cazadero CA 913 lbs. $  500.
9th Jack & Sherry LaRue 912 lbs. $  500.
10th Ronald Root, Citrus Heights CA 905 lbs. $  500.
SAN MATEO COUNTY DIVISION
1st John Muller, Half Moon Bay CA 900 lbs. $  500.
2nd Eda Muller, Half Moon Bay CA 834 lbs. $  300.
3rd Lorraine Valladao, Half Moon Bay CA 523 lbs. $  200.
SPECIAL PRIZES:
Most Beautiful Pumpkin
Jerry Porter, Salinas CA
$  500.
Biggest from State of California
Leonardo Urena, Napa CA 1,404 lbs. $1,000.
Biggest from the Coastside (Montara to Pescadero)
John Muller, Half Moon Bay CA 900 lbs. $  500.
Biggest from a San Mateo County Farm Bureau Member
John Muller, Half Moon Bay CA 900 lbs. $  500.

Weigh-Off Facts | Pumpkin FestivalMiramar Events Home