Foley Welcomes Guinness World Record Holder for Largest Pumpkin and its Master Grower

(KNSI) — The pumpkin that holds the Guinness World Record for the largest – and the man who grew it – will be in Foley next week.

People can get a gander at the giant gourd Wednesday, October 25th, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Neighborhood Plumbing and Heating. The 2,749 pound pumpkin was grown by Travis Gienger at his place near Anoka. He won $30,000 in addition to setting the record.

Neighborhood Plumbing service manager Kevin Jeffers is a childhood friend of Gienger’s and convinced him to bring the pumpkin to the shop. Jeffers is planning to make an event out of it, with Gienger participating in a question and answer session, food trucks, and activities for the kids. “We’re going to have a contest. We’re going to have pumpkins, and you’re going to have to guess how much that pumpkin weighs. And how many of those pumpkins it takes to weigh the same amount as Travis’ pumpkin.”

People can win $100 gift cards, and they will give away a basketball hoop in honor of the pumpkin’s namesake, Michael Jordan. Giegner came up with the name as Jordan wore the number 23, and it was grown in 2023.

Jeffers says this is the first time anyone has seen anything like it. “And it is probably one of the coolest things you’ll see as people are just in awe. And it’s so cool. We’re trying to get as many people [and] put as many smiles on faces as we possibly can.”

The event is free, and pictures are encouraged.

This isn’t the first time Jeffers has hosted a pumpkin party. Last year, 1,000 people showed up to see Gienger’s North American record gourd, which weighed 2,560 pounds.

Sneak and peek and snap a pic while you can. The pumpkin is on the way to the Mall of America, where it will be carved between November 2nd and the 11th.

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