Pumpkin Growers group is helping their community grow

By Joan Janzen

LEADER – The Pumpkin Growers’ 8th Annual Pumpkin Weigh-in took place on Saturday afternoon, October 18, in Leader. This year’s entries were relatively lightweight compared to previous years, with Dustin Bischoff’s 210-pound pumpkin earning first place.

In March, all participants were given seeds from last year’s prize-winning 1,080-pound pumpkin. Nevertheless, this year’s entries didn’t qualify for the heavyweights and ranged in colour from yellow to bright orange.

In addition to the top three prizes, there were awards for prettiest and ugliest pumpkins, along with plenty of door prizes, thanks to the generosity of sponsors and individuals.

The Pumpkin Growers’ ten committee members have been hosting this popular competition since 2018 as a way to raise money for the local community. Aimee Resch, a member of the group, said the group has managed to raise $50,000 to date for various community projects, including the G3 Ice Plex, River Ridge Golf Course, the Leader Water Tower Project, and the new Zamboni, through their competition and raffle fundraisers. They also help out by volunteering at local events.

They currently have a raffle running, with proceeds going towards the new clubhouse at River Ridge Golf Course. Clearly, they are a busy group as they continue to contribute to their community. And with so many children enjoying the pumpkin weigh-in this year, it seems the Pumpkin Growers are also busy growing families.