Ton-topping pumpkin wins Elk Grove weigh-off

We have a giant winner – and a new Elk Grove record!

A ton-topping gourd did indeed show up for this past weekend’s 31st annual Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival.

First-time festival champion Brian Werner of Gridley in Butte County trucked in his prized pumpkin, which weighed 2,147 pounds – a new festival record.

It was also a personal best for Werner, who has been entering pumpkins at Elk Grove’s pumpkin party since 2001.

“Brian, who’s been growing pumpkins for more than two decades, celebrated the win surrounded by his family,” say the festival organizers, who crowned the new pumpkin king on Saturday. “He shared that growing giant pumpkins keeps his mind sharp and helps him unwind after a long day. It’s not just a hobby – it’s a labor of love that connects him with a community of fellow growers he proudly calls his ‘pumpkin family.’ ”

This giant earned Werner a check for $7,000. At the weigh-off, he was accompanied by his family including daughters and grandkids.

“It means a lot,” Werner told the crowd after the weigh-off. “The support I get from my family makes it that much better. Growing pumpkins challenges me mentally every day. Every day it’s something different, and it relieves your stress of the day. It’s hard work, but it’s a great hobby.”

Werner’s pumpkin topped the runner-up by more than 500 pounds. In second place was a 1,621-pounder, grown by Johnny Gayton and Jose Ceja. They earned $3,500 for their gourd.

Will Werner’s pumpkin be California’s biggest in 2025? We’ll soon see. The Super Bowl of Giant Pumpkins – the 52nd annual Half Moon Bay World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off – will be held Monday, Oct. 13.

That contest pays $9 per pound to the winner or $30,000 for a new world record. That standard was set at the 2023 Half Moon Bay contest – a whopping 2,749 pounds (bigger than a vintage Volkswagen Beetle).