Today we have lost one of the great supporters of the Woodbridge Fair Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off. Ken passed away quietly this morning and will be missed by all of us as the man who spear headed the fund raising for the weigh off prize money. He was so pleased to have the 2020 weigh-off and to see the results of every ones years work. You may remember he did not feel well that day. He and I are both Past Presidents of the Woodbridge Fair and he will be missed by every one there as well. His family have all followed in his foot steps to help each year with the fair. We extend our sympathies to His wife Taffy and the family. Dave McCallum

We would like growers to arrive after 10:00AM and before noon. You will be directed to a safe distanced parking spot on the grounds The formation will be like a wagon train formation around the field. Weigh-off will be in the center so you will have ample view from where you are parked. Sandwiches and refreshments will be supplied and washrooms are available. Weighing and measurements will be taken starting with the earliest that arrive and will continue until everyone ids done. We will try and invoice you for your entry fee similar to Port Elgin. Prizes and ribbons will be mailed to you. Fairgrounds address is 100, Porter Avenue, Woodbridge. North of Highway #7 on Kipling to Porter just over the CPR rail tracks. You can use my cell number if you need a contact..1-519-372-4755

Can you please add this to the Woodbridge Fair site: 2020 Prize List Giant Pumpkins, 1st $2000., 2nd $1,000., 3rd $750., 4th $500., 5th $250., 6th thru to 10th $100. each Giant Squash: 1st $400., 2nd $200., 3rd $100. Giant Tomato: 1st $150., 2nd $75., 3rd $50. Field Pumpkins: 1st $150., 2nd $75.., 3rd $50. Long Gourds: 1st $150., 2nd $75., 3rd $50. Watermelon: 1st $100., 2nd $75., 3rd $50. Bushel Gourd: 1st $100. Mangel: 1st $100., 2nd $50. 3rd $25. Marrow: 1st $100., 2nd $75. 3rd $25. Tall Corn: 1st $150., 2nd $75. 3rd $50. Tall Sunflower 1st $100., 2nd $50., 3rd $25.

Thought I should start a new post regarding the Woodbridge Fair Weigh-off. The Fair Board are working at proposing a weigh-off this year pending the evolution of the Covid 19 outlook. They are cautiously anticipating a scenario that will be similar to the other two Ontario weigh-offs and will proceed as complete as they can following Municipal Guidelines. They are working on prize monies which they hope will be similar to other years and that will work for everyone. It would be nice to know how many growers are intending to attend one of the three weigh-offs in Ontario. Please stay tuned for updates as I receive them. Dave McCallum

Just a note to reassure everyone that pending no second wave of Covid 19, the Woodbridge Fair people will be holding a weigh-off the logistics of which are as yet to be decided. I talked today with Jamie Maynard who is on the fair board executive and they are working to have this as one of their feature events. They are approaching a major food wholesalers in their area to ask for funding and support with it. Jamie was very positive in his thinking on how they could carry this out. There is no doubt in my mind that they will be practicing a safe scenario for the growers and the audiences. Again this year, we will need the help of the growers of the GVGO to help with the weigh-off itself. Please send us some indication that you could help with this and that you are growing this year. This could end up being the premium show of the year. Dave McCallum

under earlier post of categories

The Woodbridge Fair Weigh-off is a go and I will publish the prize list when I receive it. I am waiting on the fair board who this year have paid the GPC fees, raised the prize monies without the help of the defunct Lunatics. The prize money will be similar to last year. Here are the categories which I have proposed to them earlier this year. We will need the help of Growers and friends present to make this a success. Being one of the last weigh-offs, the potential for another Canadian Record is possible. Dave McCallum CATEGORIES: Heaviest giant pumpkin Heaviest giant squash Heaviest giant watermelon Heaviest Field pumpkin Heaviest Cabbage Heaviest tomato Heaviest Bushel gourd Longest Long Gourd Tallest sunflower Biggest sunflower face Tallest cornstalk Other heaviest or longest or most unusual Optional for local sites: extra prize money for Howard Dill Award

I have phoned Ken Maynard and let him know that there are some growers who would help with the weigh off and that we are unable to help with fundraising. He told me that they have set up a new committee to do their own fundraising and that he would let us know if every thing is still a go before the 1st of May which is the GPC deadline for this year. Their failure to have a Midway pursay was a tactic to get the provider work with them within reason and they lost out. They will work to have this worked out for 2019. The fair still books it's advertising around the Giant Pumpkin Theme and now they hold the Canadian record. So stay tuned for the final decision for 2019. PS I have the 2018 ribbons for the GPC pumpkin winners...let me know if you want yours...…..Dave McCallum

John Butler..........40 litres Chris Lyons..........20 litres Phil Joynson.........10 litres