Open Class pumpkin sets new record
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

Committee members hefted the heaviest pumpkin of the 102-year-old Pumpkin Show to the scales on Saturday, September 26, during the Pumpkin Weighing Contest. The previous record, set last year, was 747 pounds.

Jim Kinderdine of Yorkville raised the 758-pound pumpkin that set a new record for heaviest pumpkin in the Open Class contest. Second heaviest weighed 632 pounds and belonged to Justin Duncan, also of Yorkville.

Weighing in at 543 pounds and claiming third place was a 543-pound pumpkin belonging to John Duncan. Fourth place went to Joann Kinderdine, whose pumpkin weighed 472 pounds. All winners were from Yorkville.

The Bill Hughes and Clyde Allen families competed in the Ripley County contest for heaviest pumpkin. Bill and Wilma Hughes, who live in Correct on #450 South, shared honors, with Bill having the winner at 608 pounds and Wilma coming in second with a pumpkin that weighed 367 pounds.

Clyde Allen and the Hughes' grandson Adam Swinney tied for third and fourth places with pumpkins that weighed the same - 364 pounds.

Of the six pumpkins entered in the Ripley County contest, Edna Allen's pumpkin was fifth at a weight of 291 pounds, and Bill Hughes' other entry came in sixth at 150 pounds.

A large crowd gathered at the stage during the 1:00 p.m. Saturday weigh-in, which was emceed by Lion Bill Snyder.

Presiding at the scales was Lion George Halcomb, co-chair with Clyde Allen. Others on the committee included Doug Daggy, Dwayne Cole, Ted Tapp, Tom Pavey, Bill Bradford, and Ted Ahaus. Employees of Halcomb's used the store's equipment to lift the pumpkins from trucks to the stage and back.

During the moving of the pumpkin entries onto the stage for the weigh-in, the drawing for cash prizes from the Versailles Lions Club took place.

Pumpkin Show King Jesse Beckley of South Dearborn drew the winning tickets: First prize of $1,000 went to Joe Day of Versailles; second prize of $250 went to Kathie Sanders of Versailles; and third prize of $100 to Jane McNeelan of Holton.

MARY MARGARET MOORHEAD PHOTO

The weighing of the big pumpkins was quite a feat this year as Jim Kinderdine of Yorkville entered the biggest pumpkin ever, one that weighed 758-plus pounds. Presiding at the scales were Lions George Halcomb, co-chair with Clyde Allen. Others on the committee were Doug Daggy, Dwayne Cole, Ted Tapp, Tom Pavey, Bill Bradford, and Ted Ahaus.