The largest pumpkin at the 22nd annual Preeceville Great Pumpkin contest tipped the scale at 101 pounds.
The pumpkin was entered by Tom Babchishin of Sturgis. The contest was held at the Preeceville Community Legion Hall on September 22 and sponsored by the Preeceville Public Library and the Town of Preeceville Economical Development Committee. It featured entries in the pumpkin, potato, cabbage, zucchini, onion, carrot, turnip, beet and childrens’ 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.
Stacey and Merlin Alberts won second place in the pumpkin category for their entry which weighed 95 lbs. Other entries were: Larry Schur, Carter and Wyatt Scheller, Wyatt Mastrachuk, Alex Neilson, Harvey Wolowski and Kristy Ziola.
In the beet category there were six entries. Wyatt Mastrachuk won first for his entry that weighed 6.1 lbs. Second place went to Joe Luciw for his entry that weighed 3.11 lbs. Other entrants were: Jackie Blotski, Mary Pasiechnik, Susan Serhan and Kristy Ziola.
In the carrot category there were three entries with Toni Chornomitz winning first for her entry that weighed 3.02 lbs. Second place went to Alley and Abby Scheller for their entry that weighed 2.02 lbs. Susan Serhan was the only other entry.
In the cabbage category there were five entries. Terry Kosheluk won first for his entry of 23.5 lbs. Susan Serhan won second place for a cabbage weighing 18.7 lbs. Other entrants included Ed and Diane Mateush, Ed Prystay and Nellie Dergousoff.
In the onion category, Harvey Wolowski won first place foe his entry that weighed 2.05 lbs. and Esther Prystay won second for her entry that weighed in at 1.07 lbs.
In the potato category, there were four entries. Toni Chornomitz won first place for her entry that weighed, 3.03 lbs. and Mary Pasiechnik placed second with her entry at 2.11 lbs. Other entries were from Ed Prystay and Nellie Dergousoff.
In the turnip category, there were five entries. Harvey Wolowski brought in the first place entry that weighed 14 lbs. Susan Serhan won second place for her entry that weighed 5.07 lbs. Other entries were from: Jodi Mastrachuk, Eileen Prestie and Mary Pasiechnik.
In the zucchini category there were seven entries. Jodi Mastrachuk won first for her entry that weighed 13 lbs. Carter and Wyatt Scheller won second place for their entry that weighed 10.07 lbs. Other entrants were: Marg Bowey, Abby and Alley Scheller, Caroline Strykowski, Bryanna Hartl, and Harvey Wolowski.
"The childrens’ category has really gained a lot of interest with more than 15 entries this year," said Maureen Johnson, organizer.
The event concluded with a chili and a bun lunch.
