Giant Pumpkin Time

WARREN, R.I. (AP) A welder with a great big green thumb
has won a regional contest for growing the biggest pumpkin. His prize winner
weighs in at 1,443 pounds.
Scott Palmer poses with his son Scottie, 7, and his wife Shelley behind his New
England record setting giant pumpkin Monday.

Scott Palmer took top honors at the 12th annual Rhode Island Southern New England
Giant Pumpkin Growers Championship, held Monday at Frerichs Farm.

The world record is a 1,446-pound pumpkin grown last year by Al Eaton, of Ontario,
Canada, according to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. "Best
day of my life. I got my family here, helped me grow it all year,
what else
is there to say?" said Palmer, who took home $3,500 as the victor.

While Palmer didn’t set a new global mark, he shattered the state record set
last year by Steve Perry, of Johnston, who grew a 1,253-pound fruit.

from AP