North Carolina Man’s Pumpkin One Of World’s Largest

Donald Murphy was so close. The Lenoir, North Carolina man was just sure his pumpkin could be the one. In the end, his ginormous gourd placed sixth in the world and second in North Carolina. His pumpkin weighed in at 1,028.7 pounds yesterday at The Great Pumpkin and Great Watermelon Weigh-Off that took place at the North Carolina State Fair.
In case you were wondering (and I know you are) The Tar Heel State’s biggest pumpkin clocked in at a hearty 1,097.3 pounds by Hinzy C. Williams. However, the largest in the world was cultivated by Robert Cyrus. It exhausted the scales to the tune of 2,124 pounds. That’s more than twice the weight of Murphy’s pumpkin.
I’ve GOT to make a point to attend one of these events one day. I just can’t imagine people who’ve dedicated A LOT of time and energy toward this, standing around going, “C’mon…be fatter! Be fatter!” as the digital scales do their thing. And then, the palpable dissatisfaction and disappointment when your gord has underachieved in terms of attempting to break the scales. In Donald Murphy’s case, he’s been in the business of growing these massive fruits and vegetables for more than twenty-five years.
It just goes against all conventional thinking when it comes to people and their feelings about weight, right? Oh, and as an aside. Donald Murphy also found success in the watermelon weigh in. His offering clocked in at 191.6 pounds and placed eighth in the world.
7 North Carolina County Fairs To Check Out This Fall
What do you think of when you think of fall? For me, it’s football season first and foremost. But after that, I think of things like pumpkins, apple cider, leaves, sweaters, and of course the fair. In North Carolina, fall is the season for the state and county fairs. And there is no shortage of fairs throughout the state. Most counties have some iteration of a county fair at some point in the fall months.
These fairs bring neighbors together. They feature animals, competitions, and entertainment like the always-entertaining pig races. Then there are the rides- Ferris wheels, swings, and rides that will spin you every which way. Though those last ones, while I’m sure they are fun, aren’t for me- unless you want me sick. And at the fair, you have to play a game or two, win that giant teddy bear you won’t know what to do with 48 hours later. Or perhaps a goldfish? I accidentally let a kid I was babysitting win one of those once. Not the best idea when you have to explain to the parents why you brought home a pet.
But perhaps most people’s favorite thing about the fair? The food! Maybe you like to play it safe with classics like kettle corn, funnel cakes. pizza, or candy apples. Or maybe you want anything fried- fried Oreos, fried kool aid, fried candy bars, or something I can’t even imagine. I remember at the NC State Fair the year the Krispy Kreme Burger was the new item. And it was interesting for sure. I actually feel like it may taste better than it sounds- but wasn’t worth the money or calories for me personally to find out!
So back to fairs in North Carolina. Below you’ll find a list of 7 North Carolina County Fairs, close enough to Charlotte to make a drive to! Happy fair season!
Charlie Nance is the Afternoon Drive co-host (along with his wife) of "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The couple have been with the radio station since 2006. Charlie has won the prestigious CMA (Country Music Association) Award for Radio Personality of the Year and has been a finalist for the Country Radio Hall of Fame four times. Prior to his time in Charlotte, Charlie (along with Debbie) spent more than a decade hosting successful morning radio shows in Greenville, SC; Augusta, Ga; and Birmingham, Al. As a content creator for Country 1037, Charlie writes about dream lottery windfalls, sports, restaurants and bars, and travel experiences in North and South Carolina.