Chillicothe, OH—On Saturday, October 13, 2024, the Chillicothe Halloween Festival hosted a sanctioned weigh-off by the Southern Ohio Giant Pumpkin Growers, showcasing an impressive array of giant vegetables that left festival-goers in awe. This year’s event featured entries from as far away as Michigan, with competitors hoping to win cash prizes for their hard work.
Among the highlights was Bill Sexton from Hillsboro, whose remarkable pumpkin tipped the scales at a staggering 1,886 pounds. Sexton’s pumpkin was grown from a seed sourced from local expert Dr. Bob Liggitt, known for his record-holding pumpkin that weighed in at 2,388 pounds during the 2023 Pumpkin Show.
Not only did Sexton take home first place, but he also won the prestigious Howard Dill award for the best-looking pumpkin. A passionate grower in his third year, Sexton shared his journey: “My first year, my pumpkin was over 700 pounds; my second year was a failure, but this year I won.”
Despite a challenging growing season marked by a historical drought across Ohio, Sexton remained optimistic. He faced issues with powdery mildew late in the season and noted that a recent hurricane brought five inches of rain, damaging many plants. However, his pumpkin managed to rebound, gaining an additional 40 pounds in just three days before the weigh-off.
Sexton also achieved success earlier this week, weighing in a 1,904-pound pumpkin at another competition, securing third place there. His growing enthusiasm for the craft is evident as he looks forward to future seasons.
Other winners:
Dan Fleser Williamston Michigan 1776 lbs
Derek and Erin Ruthruff Charlotte Michigan 1384 LBS
Micheal and Dusti Circleville Ohio 1375 LBS
Eli Dalton Ironton Ohio 1325 LBS
Joseph Smith Lucasville Ohio 1287 LBS
Tom Trombley Standish Michigan 985 LBS
Jarrod Thoroman Hillsboro Ohio 900 LBS
Tony Vanderpool Frankfort Ohio 487 LBS
Reeb Family Orient Ohio 322 LBS
David Dennis Frankfort Ohio 144 LBS
