
Official Rules
Site Fees And Prize Structure
Rules Regarding Prizes
Awards
Pay your Site Fee Online
GPC Officers
History

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The following choices will be available for your site and other weigh-off groups who wish to join the benefits of this world class organization.
- Basic Entry Level $100.00
- Includes membership in the GPC
- Weigh-off documentation on Big Pumpkins.com and this site
- GPC Banner to be displayed at sanctioned weigh-offs
- Avaliable for “single vegetable” competitions, which do not include
pumpkins (watermelon-only contest, for example)
- Intermediate Level $200.00
- Includes all of Basic Level benefits
- GPC Ribbons to 10th placing, including ribbons for top green squash
- Howard Dill award.
- Premium Level $300.00
- Includes all of Intermediate Level benefits
- Eligible for Top 10 Average Award
- Eligible for GPC website hosting of associated club
- Eligible for co-op advertising program
- Eligible for any other GPC Bonuses cash or otherwise
- 1st place pumpkin plaque instead of ribbon
- 1st place squash plaque
- Howard dill award plaque
Notes:
- There will be a $100.00 penalty for dues received after July 1
- All money in US funds
Rules Regarding Prizes Top^
- Best top ten average: This award will go to the site with the heaviest top ten average from all Premium Level Sites. Calculations will be based on Article 2, Section 5 of the Rules and may include squash when applicable.
- Most improved site: This award will go to the site with the biggest
percentage increase in top ten average weight gain over the previous year
(all registration levels are eligible for this award). The sites must have 10
qualifying pumpkins both years to calculate this average.
- Grower of the year award: This award will be given to the grower or "team" (as defined within Article 2, Section 1 of the GPC Rules) who accumulates the most total pounds combined from three official fruit weighed at multiple sanctioned GPC events (only Premium registration levels will be eligible for this award). The GPC will recognize the top three official fruit entered at a minimum of two separate sanctioned GPC events, providing the two fruit weighed at the same event are one pumpkin and one squash. A grower may enter in more than two GPC events but only the three heaviest fruit will count. The grower must be present with their fruit at all events to be eligible.
- Howard Dill award: This award will be given to the grower of the
prettiest, symmetric, orange or orange-red pumpkin at each Intermediate and
Premium Level site. How the winner is decided based on this description
will be up to each site coordinator.
- Rookie of the year award: This award will go to the grower of the
heaviest official fruit from all first year growers who have never entered any
pumpkin into competition previously. This pumpkin may be entered at any
GPC sanctioned event (only Premium registration levels are eligible for this award).
The grower and fruit must adhere to all rules stated in Article II,
color will not be a deciding factor. The site will be responsible for
submittal of information as stated in Article I Section 8.
- Individual grower prize money: For a grower to be eligible for prize
money paid out by the GPC, the site must be a Premium Level registration site for pumpkin and squash prizes. The complete site listing for the GPC will be made availabe after the July 1 deadline, and before the first weighoff of the northern hemisphere is scheduled. It will be the grower's responsibility to ensure they take their possible winning fruit to the correct site of participation.
- World Record bonus: awarded to a new world record for pumpkin and / or squash. There will be a maximum of one bonus awarded for pumpkin and one for squash. For example, if two pumpkins beat the previous world record the heavier (the new world record) will be the only one awarded the bonus. The current recognized record for pumpkin is 1,725 pounds, and the current record for squash is 1,236 pounds.
- Grower Jackets & Patches: Awarded to the growers who are in the current top 300 pound weight class, as compared to the world record of that year. For example, if the 2010 world record is 1850 pounds, jackets will be awarded to growers of pumpkins 1600 pounds and up. If the record stands at 1725, growers of pumpkins 1500 pounds and heavier will be awarded jackets. A grower will only be awarded one jacket; in following years patches will be awarded to the grower to add to their jacket with the same weight class requirements. These patches will denote the weight class achieved for that year.
- 4,000 pound club: Awarded to the grower who accumulates a total of 4,000 pounds of pumpkins, squash, or combination of each between their three heaviest fruit, following the same rules as the "Grower of the Year" award. The prize is a patch that can be sewn onto the grower's jacket. If a grower makes it into the 4,000 pound club without previously being awarded a grower jacket, they will be awarded one for making the 4,000 pound club. The 4,500 pound total has been achieved, and will now be awarded an additional patch. 4,800 will be the next benchmark weight total recognized.
- Master Grower: Awarded to the grower who has the best all-around
showing in combined categories (Pumpkin / Squash, Long Gourd, Field
Pumpkin, Watermelon, and Tomato) based on a points system as outlined below:
- Growers must enter at least 4 out of the 5 categories (Pumpkin/Squash, Tomato, Long Gourd, Field pumpkin, and Watermelon)
- For each individual category, we will line up those growers by place, then award points in descending order starting with the number of entries. For example, [among this narrowed field] if there were 17 growers who entered the pumpkin/squash category, 1st place would get 17 points, 2nd would get 16, ect...and last place in each category gets one point.
- The grower with the most TOTAL points wins.
In the event of a tie for first place, the winner will be chosen from the finalist(s) as follows:
1. If a world record record was broken in any category. If more than one finalist breaks a record, the win will go to the grower who broke the previous record by the largest % margin.
2. If no world record was broken, the win will go to the grower who reached the closest to the existing recognized WR in any category as a % of the weight/length of their best specimen.
Awards Top^
- Best Top 10 Average: Engraved Plaque
- Most Improved Site: Engraved Plaque and exempt from entry fee for the
following year. The fee exemption will be in the same amount as their buy-in
level from the current year.
- Grower of the Year: Embroidered jacket and engraved plaque to winner, top 3 payout listed below..
- Howard Dill Award: Ribbon.
- 2000 Pound Challenge: $4,000. See Quest for 2000 for full details.
- Rookie of the Year: Engraved plaque.
- Master Grower: Engraved plaque.
- Other Recognized Vegetables (Long Gourd, Tomato, Watermelon,
Field Pumpkin): Engraved Plaque for 1st place in GPC standings.
- Individual Grower Prizes:
** New World Record Pumpkin bonus: $500
*** New World Record Squash bonus: $500
**** New World Record Bonus: $50

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