The Annapolis Valley Giant Vegetable Growers (AVGVG) Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the growing of giant vegetables. We are a group of gardening enthusiasts who bring together giant vegetable growers of all ages in order to endorse agriculture, educate children and adults in a lifelong hobby, and support one another in goal achievement through the sharing of knowledge and experience. The AVGVG was launched five years ago and has approximately 40 members living in the Annapolis Valley with over all membership at 60 growers. Each year, since its inception, the AVGVG has held a yearly gigantic vegetable weigh off. The event takes place at Glad Gardens (5108 Highway #1 just west of Waterville). This year the date of the Giant Vegetable Weigh Off is Friday, September 27 from 7pm to 9pm and Saturday September 28, 2013 from 10am – 3pm.
This is the fifth anniversary of our event and the AVGVG has continued to expand and have seen an increased number of participants, as well as attendees. In 2012, approximately 200 people attended the event, with over 80 entrants of giant vegetables in the competition. The main attractions – giant vegetables – become superstars in their own right! And it’s not just the heaviest pumpkin that gets the attention. They are judged from the tallest sunflower or corn stalk to the heaviest tomato, watermelon, or squash. A crowd favorite is always the most unusual or weirdest giant vegetable. For the past two years this has been a English Green Marrow with last year’s weighing 102 pounds.
The Glad Gardens weigh off event is free for all who wish to attend and there are also free parking and washroom facilities on site. Although adult members of the organization enjoy the opportunity to compete for the prizes and swell with pride when they are successful with their entries, it is the children’s program where the Association spends most of its efforts. Older members of the Association recognize that they are the mentors for the next generation and they take that responsibility very seriously. The Association recognizes that, in this new food culture, a young generation is emerging with a knowledge gap in their ability to know how to grow food. Many members find it highly rewarding, on both a personal and emotional level, to work with children, grandchildren, friends, and others who do not know how to grow vegetables. By sharing their values and talents, the members are creating real cultural change in their local community.
This year we have also made a major change in our event by joining the international governing body for giant vegetable competition know as the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth (GPC). Our participants will not only be competing this year amongst themselves but also internationally with all growers of giant vegetables around the world. This major change opens up new avenues of opportunities for our club and our weigh off to show just what we can accomplish here in the valley.
Schedule of Events :
September 27th:
7:00pm – 9:00pm Vegetable Pre-Judging
September 28th:
9:00am – 10:00am Registration
10:00am – 11:30 Final Vegetable Judging
11:30am -1:00 Pumpkin & Squash Weighing
1:00pm – 2:00 Awards & Presentations
Saturday All Day Events
Children’s Games, Face Painting, Canteen & BBQ
50/50 Guess the Pumpkin Weight, Raffles
Vegetable Viewing
Adult Prizes and Awards
Heaviest Pumpkin
1st $500 2nd $300 3rd $200 4th $100 5th $50
Heaviest Squash
1st $200 2nd $100 3rd $50 4th $50 5th $50
GPC Howard Dill Award for the Prettiest Pumpkin
$50
Heaviest Tomato, Heaviest Watermelon, Tallest Sunflower, Longest Gourd, Heaviest Field Pumpkin, Largest Sunflower Head, Longest Carrot, Heaviest English Green Marrow, Heaviest Beet, Tallest Corn, Heaviest Radish
1st $20 2nd $10 3rd $5
Peoples Choice Award
1st $20 2nd $10 3rd $5
Wayne Knox Memorial Trophy awarded to Heaviest Pumpkin entered by an AVGVG Member
Children’s Category Prizes
Heaviest Pumpkin
Prize Basket & Ribbon
All other entries (same categories as above) receive a ribbon and prize
The Fine Print Anyone competing in GPC will do so as adult and pay registration fee regardless of age.(Children’s Category is Free) • Children’s entries are free for competition in Children’s category – Each child will receive a ribbon as well as a prize. Basket of goodies for the Top Pumpkin • Children are eligible to enter in the children’s category if they are 12 and under on the date of the weigh off. • In order to be awarded the Wayne Knox Memorial trophy you must be an AVGVG member at out August planning meeting (August 26th) and grow the largest pumpkin weighed at the Glad Gardens Weigh Off. • Howard Dill Award will be given to the best looking pumpkin as determined by the judges. $50.00 Prize • All adult entries will be eligible for the Lucky Growers draws. • AVGVG Memberships will be available at the weigh off and will be good (new or renewal – $10 Single , $15 Family) for all of 2014. • Judges decisions are final
Click Here to Download: 2013 Glad Gardens Weigh Off Program
Click Here to Download: 2013 Glad Gardens Weigh Off Event Poster
Click Here to Download: GPC Weigh Off Handbook
Click Here to Download: AVGVG Competition Rules
Click Here to Download: Printable Glad Gardens Entry Form
Click Here to Download: Printable GPC Data Entry Form
