From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Eddyz@efirehose.net

getting conflicting answers here, regarding weighing pumpkins this year.
The rules state the pumpkin and the grower both have to be present to qualify for GPC standings.

If this rule has in fact been changed to allow pumpkins to be sent to weigh offs without the grower being present, then can there be an announcement made so growers can act accordingly.

8/31/2020 5:09:44 PM

Bloomfield, Iowa

Wow. I had not heard that Eddie. I don't know as I like that idea. Not trying to make waves, that's for sure. I hope everyone has a weighoff or 2 that they can still make. I have the utmost respect for those that put the time in on the GPC board. It would be a ton of work, especially this year.

8/31/2020 5:20:47 PM

President - GPC

https://gpc1.org/about/rules/full-gpc-rules/

Article II Fruits and Growers
1) The entry must be exhibited by the grower or team. In the case of an emergency where the grower or team cannot be present to exhibit the entry,

the site coordinator, club/grower representative, and site representative will make a determination regarding the validity of a grower or team’s absence.

*************************************************

This is not a new rule, nor has it been changed. It has been within the GPC By Laws for a long time perhaps even before Dave was President. Due to COVID restrictions this year is a valid reason to use this exception. Its up to the site coordinator to decide, as the rule states. Its up to the grower to take care of the rest. A grower cannot use this to be at two events at one time, that is not allowed.

8/31/2020 5:46:07 PM

President - GPC

We will meet this Sunday to vote on amending this rule to remove club/grower from the exception. It should be the site coordinator that makes the call, someone who doesn't have a pumpkin in the contest and wants pumpkins at their event.

8/31/2020 6:12:09 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

thanks for that
So if I have a pumpkin to be weighed, and choose to send it to Half Moon Bay, with the boarder being close, I can't go and I have the permission of Half Moon Bay, then I can ship my pumpkin and the weight will qualify for GPC goty and all standing? Asking for a friend !!!!!

8/31/2020 6:12:29 PM

President - GPC

The Patons have already inquired and they can do exactly that and was told the same. Fruit must meet all weigh off rules to qualify, but will count towards the GOTY... Since they would have to shelter for 14 days prior to entering...this rule makes perfect sense in todays COVID Times. GROW BIG

8/31/2020 8:49:31 PM

Mulino, Oregon

I would also think that due to travel restrictions from Covid, we should consider letting people take multiple fruit to a single event with only 1 counting for prizes, but the multiples counting towards the GOTY. This would alleviate most all questions about this situation. Then, so as to not create a 'precedence' state that this is for 2020 only!

9/1/2020 9:13:28 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I like that Jim!:)


What a year......

9/1/2020 11:32:50 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

Yes good question Jim, just received a call from "a freind" and more road blocks. so this idea would rectify several issues for a lot of growers and really every pumpkin should be weighed

9/2/2020 10:56:32 AM

valtierra/spain

Eddy my friend, I am the Coordinator of the Valtierra Contest (Spain). We have accepted the fruit of the Paton brothers for two reasons.
1.- They are already contestants from other years. The Paton brothers had already attended this weigh-in.
2 ..- The Paton brothers had already registered to attend the contest in person, but due to Europe's problem with the Pandemic it has not been possible.
3.- As coordinator of the site, and in this way GPC allows us in its rules, we have accepted the fruit.
I believe that many coordinators in our situation would also have accepted it, we are in an exceptional year and we must take exceptions, we must rise to the level of the situation.
Before making the decision, we consulted GPC, and we looked at the rules, and they are clear. I hope this is not a problem, and that more site coordinators are flexible in this regard, I repeat, it is an exceptional year, and we must be Exceptional.

9/2/2020 2:33:09 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

You are absolutely spot on Ruben. You have done a stellar job with this for sure

Our problem from the boarder standpoint here is, It is not commercial and all non commercial travel is not allowed so this also goes for transporting goods, not only people.
The chance that I try and ship a pumpkin to the US may very well be declined or it could sit on a loading dock somewhere and go nowhere.
So if the rules, as Jim mentioned could change for this year and allow the grower to weigh multiple fruit at one weigh off and count as an official weight and also towards the GOTY would be in your words "we must rise to the level of the situation"
The Patons may very well loose the GOTY as we all have seen their diary. It would be a huge shame if they have to compost 3 or 4 2000 pound pumpkins.

9/2/2020 3:12:02 PM

valtierra/spain

If Eddy, I also bet because this year there would be no show pumpkins, so I transferred it to GPC a month ago, but the GPC standards are what they are. I have two large pumpkins, I lost one, but I was going to weigh 3 in the same weigh off. Without opting for the Goty. And the 3 were more than 2000 pounds. There are still many years left ... It is a year to forget, hopefully 2021, or 2022 we can return to normality to be able to travel to other countries with our pumpkins. The two that I have left will be weighed the same day: an official and another exhibition.

9/2/2020 3:18:19 PM

Lymington

Thank you we are trying desperately hard to get our pumpkins weighed and I think Dave Stelts hit the nail right on the head when he said it’s like the marines “ no pumpkin should be left behind they should all make the scales “

9/2/2020 4:29:49 PM

Flat Rock, Michigan

I think Jim is spot on.The GPC should make an exception for this exceptional year and let more than one fruit be weighed at the same weigh off but for only 1 counting towards prizes. What about the growers that are trying for there jackets and don't have weigh offs now near to them because of all the sites now not happening. Just a thought

9/2/2020 7:28:47 PM

Colorado

Makes sense to me to make a covid adjustment to the rules for 2020.Cant see any reason not to.

9/2/2020 9:00:21 PM

Sparta, NC

I totally agree with Jim we are going through such crazy times right now

9/2/2020 9:12:21 PM