A Tiny Kentucky Town Just Made History With a Super-Sized Showdown

While thousands of people swarmed downtown for the Owensboro Air Show this past Saturday, my sweet little mama and I wandered over to Hawesville. A mighty fine group gathered at the Hancock County Fairgrounds for what ended up being one of the coolest events I have ever experienced.

The first-ever Kentucky Giant Growers Bluegrass Championship weigh-off brought folks from all over the country to a little ole town they probably never thought they'd visit. I personally got to chat with people from Colorado, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Kansas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania, but I heard there were 14 states represented!

Setting a record for the most states in attendance at a single weigh-off site, that was just one of several ways history was made that day.  Organizer and self-proclaimed "crazy" giant watermelon master Nick McCaslin wore many hats over the weekend, and he was also a wonderful emcee.

I learned SO MANY cool things about the process as we moved from long gourd to watermelons, to pumpkins, back to watermelons, and back to pumpkins again for a nail-biter grand finale. The scale saw veteran pickers and first-time growers earning their first official hat. A newly engaged couple; an elementary school class; a fascinating 17-year-old young lady from the Northeast named Abigail, who is about to graduate from college!

Amazing stories and impressive achievements all day long. Of course, there were some tragic tales of watermelons cracking after being transported for miles on the highway. They do all they can to make the ride nice and easy with foam pads and mattress toppers galore, but you just never know!

One job I would not have wanted was on the crew loading the giants in and out, on the scale, and off the scale. Some of these things took 3-4 men, a forklift, a crane, or all three to move across the pavilion! I was a nervous wreck just watching at times. The pressure! I know those fellas slept REALLY good that night.

The camaraderie among everyone was super fun to be a part of. They love to tease each other and call each other "sandbaggers" and cut up, but everyone roots for everyone to reach their goal weight for their melon or gourd. Which is basically just bigger than the last thing they grew. They all work SO hard and are SO dedicated. Growing giants is a science, an art, a test of patience, and sometimes a bit of a gamble.

At first glance, most everyone would have had their money on the home favorite. Josh Monin, repeat blue ribbon winner at the Kentucky State Fair, current state record holder for the largest pumpkin. His was saved for last because it was the biggest in attendance. Weighing in at 2,481 pounds, this pumpkin beat Josh's own state record from last year. However, it was not the biggest of this competition.

The top spot in the Pumpkin category went to a man from Plainfield, Illinois, named Phil Groenewold. A beautiful, shiny, orange, "leopard print" 2,492.5-pound pumpkin was the king of the weigh-off. The average weight of the top ten pumpkins was 1,506.15 pounds! That's a lotta monsters in one place.

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The winner of the Watermelon weigh-off was none other than the Watermelon Whisperer from Hancock County himself, Nick McCaslin. This came as no surprise to anyone in the growing community, as he has quite the reputation. At one point in the day, he thanked everyone for being there and shared how he was happy for his home to experience a weigh-off like this for the first time.

"Now y'all know why I'm crazy, and you can see I ain't alone!" Nick joked. It was very clear to see that once the giant-growing bug bites you, you are hooked for life. I'm not gonna lie, I got choked up a few times seeing how much this event meant to everyone participating. The pride that comes with this epic show & tell is so heartwarming.

It was inspiring to see such a little spot on the map play host to such massive giants from all over the United States. Congratulations to everyone involved in the planning and execution of this event. Shout-out to the ladies at the front desk, the pumpkin wranglers, the equipment operators, Hancock County Fair Board, Hancock County Farm Supply, Hancock County Tourism Board, and the Chamber of Commerce.

With continued community support, the Kentucky Giant Growers Bluegrass Championship Weigh-off could and should become a beloved annual tradition. If you would like to be a part of the 2nd Annual Kentucky Giant Growers Bluegrass Championship Weigh-off, reach out to Nick McCaslin or the Kentucky Giant Growers on Facebook or holler at me on the App Chat. Otherwise, mark your calendar for Saturday, September 11th, 2027! Keep scrolling for tons of pictures!