PREECEVILLE, Sask. — The largest pumpkin to win the annual Preeceville Great Pumpkin contest weighed in at 96 pounds.
The pumpkin was entered by Shelly Scebenski of Preeceville. Nicholas Chalupiak of Preeceville won second place for his entry that weighed 73 pounds, and Lecia Chalupiak of Preeceville won third place for her entry that weighed 68 pounds.
The contest was held at the Preeceville Main Street parking lot and was sponsored by the Town of Preeceville Economic Development Committee. It featured entries in the pumpkin, potato, cabbage, zucchini, onion, carrot, turnip and beet categories.
All entries had to be grown in a garden and be show-ready with the tops cut off. First-place entries won $50, and $25 was awarded for second place. Entries in the kids’ category received $10, and the pumpkin entries won $75 for first place and $50 for second.
“This is the 30th year for the contest,” said Gracey Olson. “It was a challenging year for the growing season, but it is very encouraging with the community's continued involvement. This year is special as it is our 30th year hosting the contest,” she said. She also acknowledged Lorne Plaxin and Maureen Johnson for their involvement from the beginning.
Gracey Olson had the task of weighing and measuring all vegetables.
In the carrot category, there were six entries in total, with a tie for first place between Shelly Scebenski and Dianne Kudeba, with entries that weighed one pound, 6.3 ounces each. Third place was another tie between Dale Prestie and Joe Yacyshyn, with entries weighing one pound, 2.1 ounces each. The other two entries were brought in by Jacquie Blotski and Susan Serhan, weighing 13.3 ounces each.
The beet category had six entries, with Dale Prestie’s entry of nine pounds, 1.4 ounces claiming first place, followed by Lecia Chalupiak’s entry that weighed three pounds, 15.8 ounces. Other entries were Jacquie Blotski, two pounds, four ounces; Shelly Scebenski, one pound, 13 ounces; Dianne Kudeba, one pound, 10 ounces; and Susan Serhan, two pounds, 14.5 ounces.
In the zucchini category, there were three entries: Dale Prestie won first place with 10 pounds, 0.8 ounces, followed by Susan Serhan with eight pounds, 3.1 ounces, and Dianne Kudeba with eight pounds, 0.9 ounces.
In the onion category, there were five entries. Susan Serhan won first place with her entry weighing two pounds, 7.7 ounces. Harvey Wolowski won second place with his entry weighing two pounds, 2.2 ounces. Other entries brought in to be measured were Dennis Wales, one pound, 4.8 ounces; Dianne Kudeba, 10.6 ounces; and Dale Prestie, one pound, 8.3 ounces.
In the turnip category, Susan Serhan beat out Dale Prestie for first place with her entry weighing three pounds, 14.7 ounces. Prestie's entry weighed three pounds, 14.1 ounces.
In the cabbage category, Dale Prestie’s entry, which weighed 15 pounds, one ounce, beat out Susan Serhan's entry, which weighed 10 pounds, 0.8 ounces.
In the potato category, Susan Serhan won top prize for her entry that weighed three pounds, 5.8 ounces. Second place went to Oliver and Everett Nelson for their entry weighing three pounds, 5.4 ounces, and third place went to Dale Prestie for his entry weighing two pounds, 7.9 ounces. Jacquie Blotski brought in the other entry, which weighed one pound, 8.3 ounces.
“It is great to see the tradition of proudly showing garden vegetables continue,” said Plaxin. “It had always been a dream come true for me, and was started from a television show. After watching a show about how avid gardeners showed off their bountiful harvest crops and the large-scale vegetables, I decided that I wanted to try that same thing in Preeceville. The support through the years has been wonderful. In my era, everyone planted a large garden; nobody starved or went hungry,” he concluded.
The EDC also hosted a barbecue hot dog lunch.
