Marco Crisciotti Brandon Dawson, a California engineer from Santa Rosa, wins the 52nd World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay with a 2,346-pound (1,064-kilogram) pumpkin, claiming the $20,000 prize and redemption after last year's defeat.
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In California, the passion for gardening transforms into a record-breaking achievement. Brandon Dawson, an engineer from Santa Rosa, took first place at the 52nd World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco, with a pumpkin weighing an impressive 2,346 pounds (1,064 kilograms). The competition, among the most prestigious of its kind in the world, crowned his creation as the largest of the year, surpassing the expectations of both audience and judges.
A comeback after last year’s defeat
For Dawson, this victory has a special flavor. Just a year ago he came in second, defeated by a handful of pounds. This time, however, he hit the target with an enormous pumpkin, weighing as much as a small car or a large bison. During the award ceremony, the engineer celebrated with his children, having them sit on top of the giant pumpkin, a symbol of months of work and his determination.
Technique, patience and family: the recipe for success
Beyond passion, Dawson brought his professional expertise to bear. He works as an engineer at Rivian Automotive, a company specializing in electric vehicles, and applied the same precision to his garden that he uses at work: light control, constant irrigation and careful growth monitoring. The result was extraordinary. His family also played an important role: together with his two- and four-year-old children, Dawson followed the plant’s evolution day by day, which at times grew up to 66 pounds (30 kilograms) per day.
A $20,000 prize
The victory at the Half Moon Bay competition earned him a prize of $20,000, crowning five years of experiments and improvements in giant pumpkin cultivation. The previous year, the title went to Minnesota grower Travis Gienger, with a pumpkin weighing 2,471 pounds (1,121 kilograms). Gienger, who still holds the world record with a pumpkin of 2,749 pounds (1,247 kilograms) recorded in 2023, was unable to participate this year due to damage to his crop.
New records and an increasingly fierce competition
While Dawson was celebrating his California victory, in England two brothers pushed the bar even higher, setting a new world record with a pumpkin weighing 2,817 pounds (1,278 kilograms). The international rivalry among growers demonstrates that giant pumpkins are not just an autumn curiosity, but a true discipline made of technique, dedication and competitive spirit.
