4 minute read
Crews Crowned Smoky Lake Pumpkin Fair Weigh-Off Champion
Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser
For the second straight year Don Crews was officially crowned Great White North Pumpkin Weigh-Off Champion.
The Lloydminster grower won the title with his gigantic pumpkin weighing in at 2,037.5 lbs. While he was glad his winning pumpkin topped 2,000 lbs. he was definitely hoping for closer to 2,500 lbs. Last year his winning entry earned a Canadian record, weighing in at 2,537 lbs.
“Last year I couldn’t have asked for a better season; not a cloudy day. Sometimes you just hit it right. This year there wasn’t enough sun.” There were also days when smoke from the wildfires turned the sky cloudy, resulting in no growth. “At times I wasn’t sure if it was rotten, dead or just stopped growing; and then the sun came out. Crews can’t quantify the impact the smoke had overall and to what extent it impeded growth. Not having very much rain meant he had to buy city water and had to make adjustments to the ph. level to compensate as it is treated for lime. While there are many variables that go into growing pumpkins, Crews said what he and other growers try to do is take all the factors that are out of your control and get control of them.
Crews grew the largest field pumpkin that weighed in at 129 lbs., beating out closest competitor John Lobay of Smoky Lake by only 5 lbs. Mary Lobay earned third place in that category. John Lobay won for heaviest squash weighing in at 344 lbs.
Crew’s watermelon took top prize weighing in at 32 lbs. He has been entering the Smoky Lake Pumpkin Fair for more than 20 years and there is no doubt he will continue to do so in the future.
While the pumpkin weigh-off is the main event of the Pumpkin Fair, a close second could be the Pumpkin Drop as it also attracts thousands of spectators. This year was no exception and the weather and wind conditions were ideal for the spectacle. One spectator commenting, “Who knew pumpkins could be so exciting.”
There was plenty of other excitement during the Pumpkin Fair that was extended to several days. The event kicked-off with a Harvest Dinner Oct. 5 at Metis Crossing. Oct. 6 featured a dance and beer gardens. Most of the activities were held on Oct. 7. A pancake breakfast, car show, farmers’ markets, museum threshing bee, mural reveal, Ukrainian showcase, corn maze, midway and more. Oct. 8 rounded out the event with family garden pumpkin weigh-off, bench show, and kids’ entertainment.
The 33rd edition was a huge success and Mayor Amy Cherniwchan along with Smoky Lake County Reeve Lorne Halisky and Athabasca-Barrhead Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken said it wouldn’t be possible without the growers, volunteers, sponsors, municipal support and visitors.
During the opening ceremony of the weigh-off, Cherniwchan said, “As Mayor of Smoky Lake it feels so good to be up here and see all of you. Who could imagine an event like this 33 years ago. Thank you to our founders who had the courage to dream big. Imagine that a pumpkin weigh-off here in Smoky Lake would rate the world scene. We know the mystery of the pumpkin has drawn you here again.”
Following the event, Cherniwchan stated, “The 2023 Pumpkin Fair was another successful event that extended over three days this year. Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers and community support.”
