From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Nova Scotia

Hello fellow growers, ever since our late father Howard Dill originated his ATLANTIC GIANT pumpkin seed, we saved every letter and envelope from growers around the World. There are boxes upon boxes from each year since the late 1970s. Our storage room is plugged so I finally had to do some "house cleaning". Over the past month I have gone through thousands of letters, pictures, etc and still only half done! Saving any special ones and those from around the World. It has been a very special time and bringing back so many great memories. So many of our original founders are sadly gone who created weigh offs and interest in their regions. They would be so proud today to see where this has grown! Stay tuned. Danny

4/7/2023 6:34:54 PM

Westmoreland, KS

dang that's cool

4/7/2023 10:03:49 PM

Jericho Vermont

That's a wonderful thing Danny. Our oldest son grew giants with me while he was growing up and broke our youth State record. A fun achievement although I am not sure we had a youth category until he started growing. LOL But, the best part of the story was that Kevin Companion let Howard know of his success and interest and Howard sent him a nice letter. He still holds on to the letter to this day. Hopefully, when he gets his own house he will play around in the garden once again.

4/8/2023 2:35:06 PM

Colorado

Any of the history of the contests,genetics,organizations,competition,friendships is gold.

4/8/2023 4:01:05 PM

Colorado

Joe you are right this is all gold!

4/8/2023 4:43:12 PM

Nova Scotia

Update into the earlier years now and the "big" growers back then such as Milton Barber, NY, Don Fleming, VT, Norm Gallagher,WA, Gordon Thomson, PQ, and so many others of course to name a few. Don Black, Joel Holland, etc set the pace and standard in early 1990s. Thanks John for sharing your story, Kevin knows how to grow big and orange! Joe yes the friendships and connections a grower makes thanks.

4/8/2023 6:52:20 PM

danny your dad sent me a letter back in 2007 I mentioned him on national tv he thanked me il find that letter

4/8/2023 8:13:00 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Looking forward to this Danny!

The growers I've spoken with that were helped by your father said he shared everything! All he wanted was to pass the knowledge down and teach the grower he was helping to help the next guy in line!
That's what its all about!!

Look how far this has come just in the past 20 years! From just under 1000 pounds to darn near 3000 this year!! Howard would be proud and BLOWN AWAY!!

4/8/2023 10:33:55 PM

Rhode Island

DANNY & DIANA,
FIRST AND FOREMOST YOUR DAD WAS A TRUE GENTLEMAN. RON AND I WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE MET AND SPENT TIME WITH HIM AT A PAST PUMPKIN EVENT MANY YEARS AGO IN CANADA.
I WAS IMPRESSED WITH HIS HONESTY AND KINDNESS TO EVERYONE WHO WISHED TO TALK WITH HIM. A TRUE KING OF THE PATCH FOR SURE. WE WILL ALWAYS RESPECT THE DILL NAME
PAP WALLACE

4/9/2023 8:12:12 AM

Nova Scotia

Yes Don we remember that big year of yours and Dad so excited. It was great to take Dad to a Niagara growers conference finally back then PAP and for us to meet so many of you in person. I will never forget the moment Eddy Z won a "846 Calai" seed there in a auction and then promptly walked over and gave it to Dad! That was so special and inspiring. At least I remembered that LOL.

4/9/2023 9:21:49 AM

Nova Scotia

By all indications with the amount of letters/requests for seeds, 1990-1992 saw a huge interest in giant pumpkin growing. Mainly due in thanks to USA media stories in such publications Farmers' Almanac, Flower & Garden, Organic Growing magazines. Just came across a letter from some fella by the name "Richard Wallace" Feb. 6, 1990??? Think he and his son have grown some record pumpkins. Cheers!

4/9/2023 11:55:26 AM