The Pampoenfees returned to the Lavender Kontrei Mark this past Saturday, where pumpkin growers battled it out to see who could grow the heaviest pumpkin and claim the R15 000 cash prize.

The Goliat van Gat Pampoenfees entered its 22nd consecutive year, selling over 600 packets of seeds throughout the country, as well as Namibia.

There are also prizes for junior contestants and other sub-categories, such as the most beautiful pumpkin, ugliest pumpkin, and pumpkin seed-spitting competition.

First prize is R15 000, and if the pumpkin is heavier than the previous record set of 890kg, it’s another R3 000, and if a pumpkin exceeds one ton, it’s a whopping R35 000.

“It’s great fun, we got a lot of stalls, and it’s a great vibe. After this, we’ll start harvesting the seeds and start selling them for next year. The new season will start around early September, so the pumpkins are ready for next year by March 2027, and we’re back again,” said Hendri Combrink, member of the Cullinan Farmers’ Union and organiser of Pampoenfees.

This year’s first-place went to Wykus Lamprecht with his 653kg pumpkin.

The top-10 pumpkins belonged to Wykus Lamprecht (653kg), Pieter Botha (562kg), Jacky Smal (549.4kg), Cornelis Bester (452.8kg), Dirk Smal (434.8kg), Alida Bester (336.8kg), Bester Hattingh (257kg), Petrus Mare (131.4kg), Pierre de Klerk (79.8kg), and Deon Smith (24.8 kg).

In the Skorsie/squash category, the following entries scored highly: Wykus Lamprecht (493.3kg), Bester Hattingh (237.4kg), and Leila Lerm (172kg).

A total of 4 342kg worth of pumpkin was weighed in for the day.

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