Hub Staff

Dave Middleton, Pumpkinfest’s perennial orator, growers and many of the organizers believed they had saved the best for last. Local participant and the originator of Pumpkinfest Doug Court said that the pumpkin and squash girth measurement is a pretty good predictor of overall weight and he believed that both of the final two had a chance to break through the elusive to Port Elgin 2,000 lb ceiling.

While several Canadian records were broken for some of the less glamorous vegetables such as the cucumber and bushel gourd, the gargantuan squash and pumpkins of cucurbita genus did not deliver on the Canadian record front. They did however deliver on excitement, anticipation and drama for the hundreds in attendance September 29 in the Bruce Power Growers Tent, part of the 32nd annual Port Elgin Pumpkinfest.

With this in mind the stage was set for the Jim and Kelsey Bryson, a father and daughter team from Ormstown, Quebec to weigh in ahead of John Matesa of Breslau, Ontario. Jim and Kelsey believed their new approach to soil preparation had helped them to challenge for the top prize. "We used the no till approach to maintain healthy soil by allowing the bacteria to refurbish the nutrients," said Jim.

All the while believing their pumpkin was good for second place they were all smiles and Kelsey, who had just turned 19, was serenaded with a rendition of 'Happy Birthday' by Dave Middleton and hundreds in the audience.

In a timed delay orchestrated by Middleton, the tension was very real. John Matesa admitted to being nervous and was still grateful to be in a competition that he believes “is with yourself” rather than the other growers.

Matesa went on to say how happy he was to be at the 32nd annual festival in Port Elgin after a tornado passed close enough to his home in 2017 to eliminate all of his efforts. Everyone in the Bruce Power Growers' Tent (aka Missionary Church and old arena building) pressed forward with cameras and smartphones and to the collective surprise Matesa’s pumpkin weighed in at 1855 lbs.

This weight missed the Canadian record of 1877 lbs, held by Todd Kline of Shawville, Quebec and finished second to the Bryson’s 1871 lbs. Warm and spontaneous applause was delivered by a satisfied audience as Jim and Kelsey returned to be congratulated by Middleton et al. Bryson and Matesa exchanged a handshake validating the change in fortune.

Reflecting on he and his daughter's win, Jim Bryson believes their success was due to hard work and luck. "You get what you get," he said. "This is the fifth time here and the fifth time winning. This is an amazing weigh off and the best one that we come to," he added.

See also: Pumpkins, cars and fun, oh my!