What’s round, orange and weighs 410 pounds?
This year’s winner of ‘Louie’s Great Pumpkin Contest? held Friday evening at Louie’s Food and Spirits in Lakeville.
The 410-pound winning pumpkin was grown by Oakland Township resident Steve Fogler. It took seven people to lift the monster and place it on the scale.
Not only did Fogler grow the largest pumpkin in the contest’s four-year history, he’s also the first person to win it outside of Zivko ‘Zeeke? Vasovski (co-owner of Louie’s Food and Spirits) and Steve Ardelean (owner of the Leonard-based Distinctive Design).
The contest began in 2001 as a friendly little gardening competition between Addison neighbors Vasovski and Ardelean. It quickly became an annual event drawing spectators and wagers as to who’s pumpkin is bigger.
Ardelean won the first contest with a 335-pounder. But Vasovski claimed the mantle of victory the next two years with a 353-pounder in 2002 and 329?-pounder in 2003.
Some friendly prodding and the immortal words ‘I can do that? got Fogler involved in this year’s competition.
Even before the big weigh-in Friday, it was quite obvious Fogler’s pumpkin was the winner as it dangled suspended in midair by a crane.
Despite knowing the outcome prior to the actual weighing, Fogler remained humble and gracious.
‘You guys weigh the little ones first,? he said.
Vasovski’s pumpkin weighed 230? pounds while Ardelean’s was only 102 pounds.
Both blamed their overweening lust for victory and overuse of fertilizer (which can have an adverse effect on growing) for their smaller-than-usual pumpkins.
‘We tried to hard,? Ardelean said. ‘Too much is not always good.?
Another newcomer to the contest, Angie Crabtree, of Auburn Hills, grew a 216-pound pumpkin.
‘I think I did awesome,? said Crabtree, who just happens to be Fogler’s girlfriend. ‘I came close to beating Zeeke, so I’m happy.?
When asked how they feel about being beaten by newcomer Fogler, Vasovski and Ardelean were good sports.
‘Steve’s my friend. No problem,? Vasovski said.
‘We look forward to having more newcomers,? Ardelean said. ‘It just makes it more fun for all of us.?