Pumpkin grown in Harrison City snares top prize at Ohio festival

A Harrison City man squashed the competition at a pumpkin festival in Ohio.

Erik Gunstrom’s 2,405-pound entry won first place in the 58th annual Barnesville, Ohio, Pumpkin Festival on Wednesday, beating the next runner-up by more than 40 pounds. Last year’s winner at that festival was 2,195 pounds.

Gunstrom, an engineer who said he spent about 30 hours per week growing the gourd, said it is not just heavy.

“It is the prettiest giant pumpkin in the world,” Gunstrom said. “It has great shape, color and smoothness.”

That is not always the case when giant pumpkins are grown, as many of them crack and heal and become scarred, said Gunstrom, who has been growing large vegetation for more than 15 years.

He has won awards for giant onions, beet roots, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage and other fruits and vegetables.

Gunstrom said the giant pumpkin community is tight-knit and enthusiasts share knowledge and seeds, which accounts for advances in beauty along with heft.

His backyard garden also provides quality time with his wife, Chrissy, and their son, Erik, 12, and daughter, Natalia, 10.

“It takes a lot of time,” Gunstrom said. “Covid was good for me. I can be on a conference call and be in the garden.”

Tim Miller, who is in charge of the weigh-in for the Barnesville Festival, said he is happy for Gunstrom.

“He deserves it,” Miller said. “He put a lot of hard work into it.”

Gunstrom said the pumpkin, which he calls “2405,” required a custom homemade crane to get out of his garden and onto a trailer.

It is on display at the Chick-fil-A in St. Clairsville, Ohio, and will make its way to Pittsburgh for the Monster Pumpkin Festival in the Strip District, which is planned for Oct. 15 and 16.

“These festivals are good for the kids,” Gunstrom said. “They get to see that the hard work pays off and that something that starts at the size of a quarter can grow into something huge, if you take care of it.”