495-pounder takes top prize at 13th Annual Gouverneur Pumpkin Festival

by Rachel Hunter

The 13th Annual Gouverneur Pumpkin Festival, presented by the Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair Association and the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce, was held on Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22 at the Gouverneur Fairgrounds. It was made possible in partnership with local sponsors RSI Roofing, Don Peck Auctioneer, Team Blevins, and the Gouverneur Garden Club, with appreciation extended to Barry Turner (crane operator). Funds raised during the annual event benefits the Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair Association’s building and maintenance fund.

The 2024 Gouverneur Pumpkin Festival Weigh-Off Contest on Sunday, September 22 saw entries from North Country growers with lots of participation in the youth division. Festivalgoers arrived at the Gouverneur Fairgrounds at 1 p.m. to watch the Weigh-Off take place. The event was made possible thanks to the hard work of the Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair Association and community volunteers in the harnessing, lifting, weighing, and accurately recording and reporting the pumpkin weights.

A 495-pound giant, grown by Travis Clemons of Croghan, took the top prize of $200. Faithful readers of the Gouverneur Tribune Press will recall that Clemons has an annual family rivalry with his mother-in-law Christine Nolan of Champion and formerly of Gouverneur. This year, there was no competition as Nolan is planning to take her giant (estimated at 1,500 pounds) to the giant pumpkin contest at Saratoga. It was reported to the Gouverneur Tribune Press that the wet season made giant pumpkin growing a challenge. Mr. Clemons said that Croghan received over 30 inches of rain in one month alone. Other giant pumpkin growers experienced issues with wildlife consuming their prize pumpkins.

The second place prize of $100 went to Lyle Hotis of Gouverneur for his 410-pound pumpkin that was later used for the 2024 Giant Pumpkin Drop. Mr. Hotis also won the third place prize of $50 for his 259-pound entry.

Travis Clemons’ son, Brayden Clemons of Croghan, won the first-place prize of $50 and trophy for his 428-pound entry. The second place prize of $25 went to Harper Sech for her 324-pound and 259-pound entries. The third place prize of $10 went to Lilyanna Clemons for her 205-pound entry. Fourth place went to Konrad Bice of Gouverneur with his 197-pound entry. Other competitors were as follows: Atticus Tweedie (146 pounds), Riley Powell Tweedie (145 pounds), Gavin Tulley (137 pounds), Oliver Powell Tweedie (119 pounds), Carole Tulley (92 pounds), Jonathon Webb (88-pound and two 76-pound entries), Judson Foote (80 pounds), Laura Foote (79 pounds), Sadie Sergel (60 pounds), Kestin Sergel (53 pounds), Jeremiah Foote (47 pounds), Josiah Foote (47 pounds), Jolie Fuller (44 pounds), and Ethan Schroeder (31 pounds).

Much gratitude was extended to all exhibitors for bringing their exceptional giant pumpkin specimens to the 2024 Gouverneur Pumpkin Festival.

Pumpkin seeds were made available to the public from Lyle Hotis’ 410-pound entry, and all North Country residents were encouraged to grow giant pumpkins, and enter the 14th Annual Gouverneur Pumpkin Festival’s Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off Contest in 2025.

Many attendees stayed at the Gouverneur Fairgrounds to watch the Giant Pumpkin Drop at 4 p.m., a definite crowd favorite. (See associated story inside this edition.) Much gratitude is extended to all who made the 2024 Gouverneur Pumpkin Festival a success. For more information, visit the Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair Association’s website, gouverneurfair.net.