Larry Checkon, 53, is the champion of the world! Well, his pumpkin is, anyway. Checkon squashed the competition earlier this month with a world-record-breaking pumpkin that tipped the scales at a whopping 1,469 pounds.
Checkon first entered the Pennsylvania Giant Pumpkin Growers Association contest in 1998. He went on to win four state titles, but not a world record. This year, Checkon finally did it, beating out 80 other entries. His monstrous white pumpkin measures 441 inches around and weighs 23 pounds more than the previous world-record holder.
How does one grow a giant pumpkin? Checkon shared his secret: "It takes good soil, good seed, good weather and very good luck!"