Pennsylvania Man Among World's Top Giant Pumpkin Growers

Many years of creating larger-than-life Cucurbita maxima, or giant pumpkins to those of us not fanatical and yet in awe of this hobby, have resulted in a Saegertown man's induction into the Hall of Fame of an international pumpkin organization.

Quinn Werner received the award at a ceremony on March 21 during the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth's annual seminar at the Genetti Best Western Hotel in Wilkes-Barre. Werner was honored for his many years of excellence as one of the world's top giant pumpkin growers. He has grown 90 pumpkins that weigh more than 1,000 pounds.

His wife, Marlene, attended the ceremony and sometimes accompanies him at GPC weigh-offs. Werner has attended 58 weigh-offs in 13 consecutive years. He won first place at 27 of those weigh-offs.

His wife can't always attend an event if it requires an overnight stay since someone has to babysit the pumpkins that are still growing at home. If the temperature dips too far, she covers them with blankets and maybe even tucks them in for the night.

Marlene does not share that frustration that Sally expresses to Linus in the classic television special, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," as Linus spends the entire night awaiting the arrival of The Great Pumpkin. Marlene instead offers her support and encouragement.

"I would absolutely spend the night in a pumpkin patch with my husband," she said.

Werner received an engraved plaque, not just for growing enormous squash, but for meeting a list of impressive criteria and making it through a selection process that includes voting, ranking and scoring of all nominees.

The first step in the process is nomination. Werner was nominated by two men who serve along with him on the Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers board of directors. Alan Gibson, Hall of Fame 2009 inductee, and Tim Parks, 2006 Hall of Fame inductee, drafted the letter that initiated the process.

Werner's name was added to the ballot for a voting procedure that includes ranking and scoring.

Ultimately, entry into the Hall of Fame is granted when a score of at least 85 percent is reached and a person receives at least 70 percent of first place votes.

Werner's Hall of Fame status was not granted solely due to the fact that he can grow award-winning giant pumpkins. He is very dedicated to his full-time hobby and he gives freely of his knowledge and time in helping others who share his passion.

His "time off" during the winter months is spent researching new and improved methods to produce the giant award-winners.

Werner spearheaded ground-breaking foaming stump research which results in minimal weight loss. In the past it was common to cut off the stump. Opening the stump and injecting Zerotol, or a similar product, results in foaming. Growers worldwide have adopted this method to increase the size of their pumpkins.

Werner also routinely shares his knowledge at seminars covering topics such as genetics, seed selection, drip irrigation and vine pruning.

He often donates his seeds from the pumpkins to clubs and organizations to help with fundraising efforts.

The actual growing will begin soon. He typically starts his seeds around April 17.

In their nomination letter, Gibson and Parks describe Werner as one of the all-time great growers and gentleman of the great hobby.

Maybe Linus wasn't crazy for waiting all night for the Great Pumpkin. He just wasn't in a field of pumpkins grown by Quinn Werner.

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Online:

http://bit.ly/1GBvcwI

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Information from: The Meadville Tribune, http://www.meadvilletribune.com