In California, the passion for gardening turns into a record-breaking feat. Brandon Dawson, an engineer from Santa Rosa, took first place at the 52nd World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco, with a pumpkin weighing an impressive 1,064 kilograms. The competition, among the most prestigious of its kind in the world, crowned his creation as the greatest of the year, exceeding the expectations of the public and judges.
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A revenge after the defeat of the previous year
For Dawson this victory has a particular flavor. Only a year ago he came second, defeated by a handful of kilos. This time, however, he hit the target with an enormous pumpkin, with a weight comparable to that of a small car or a large bison. During the awards ceremony, the engineer celebrated with his children, making them sit on the giant pumpkin, a symbol of months of work and his determination.
Technique, patience and family: the recipe for success
In addition to his passion, Dawson brought his professional skills to bear. He works as an engineer at Rivian Automotive, a company specializing in electric vehicles, and has applied the same precision to his garden that he uses at work: light control, constant watering and careful monitoring of growth. The result was extraordinary. His family also played an important role: together with his two- and four-year-old children, Dawson followed the evolution of the plant day after day, which at times grew up to 30 kilograms a day.
A $20,000 prize
His victory at the Half Moon Bay competition earned him a $20,000 prize, capping five years of experiments and improvements in growing giant pumpkins. The previous year, the title went to Minnesota grower Travis Gienger, with a 2,500-pound pumpkin. Gienger, who still holds the world record with a pumpkin of 1,247 kilograms recorded in 2023, was unable to participate this year due to damage to his crop.
New records and increasingly heated competition
While Dawson celebrated the Californian victory, in England two brothers pushed the bar even higher, setting a new world record with a pumpkin weighing 1,278 kilograms. The international rivalry between growers demonstrates that giant pumpkins are not a simple autumnal curiosity, but a real discipline made up of technique, dedication and a spirit of competition.
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