Pumpkin growers compete at the Goliat van Gat Pampoenfees
Cornelius Bester’s pumpkin won weighing a whopping 730.8kg.
The 20th Goliat van Gat Pampoenfees competition this past weekend featured some of the top giant pumpkin growers.
The competition took place at the Pretoria Farmers Market in Silverton.
The Cullinan Farmers Union has been hosting the competition for the past 20 years after being inspired by similar competitions in the United States.
Organiser Hendri Combrink said: “I think it’s the camaraderie among the growers that keeps it alive, as well as the enthusiasm from the people that attend. It’s not every day that you can see a pumpkin that weighs 500, 600 or 700kg, so there’s always a big hype when the bakkie or trailer is coming in hauling the big pumpkins and that’s a nice thing to see.”
Last year’s winning pumpkin weighed an astonishing 890kg, and the organisers were hoping to beat that record this year, but it wasn’t meant to be.
The day’s winner was Cornelius Bester whose pumpkin weighed in at 730.8kg. Second place went to Wykus Lamprecht (568kg) and third went to Dirk Smal (467.4kg)
“It’s an extremely lekker hobby, sometimes very frustrating, but it gives you respect for being a farmer again. I enjoy the like-minded people, it’s great fun and great camaraderie between the growers. Hendri made a WhatsApp group for us where we could connect and share info with the new guys, things like ‘it’s just you, nature and doing your best, that’s it’,” Bester said.
It was third time lucky for Bester, as it was his third year competing and he said it took six months to grow his prize-winning pumpkin.
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