9th Annual Great Pumpkin Contest
Exhibitor Fee: $15.00
Only 1 entry per exhibitor.

Superintendent: LC Scramlin (248) 894-5558
Email: lcscramlin@hotmail.com for questions

Weigh in is Tuesday September 1, 2026 from 6pm-8pm at the Michigan State Fair, located at the Vibe Credit Union Showplace 46100 Grand River Ave. Novi, MI 48374
Thanks to the generosity of Oakland County Farm Bureau, exhibitor fees and entry for the
Great Pumpkin contest will be sponsored in full for all GPC exhibitors for the 2025 fair. Oakland County Farm Bureau, Michigan’s oldest County Farm Bureau, is proud to help bring this exciting contest to the Michigan State Fair.
To clarify: Oakland County Farm Bureau will pay for 1 exhibitor entry (which includes 1 exhibitor pass) and the contest entry for 1 pumpkin.
In order to prepare for the number of pumpkins that are coming to the fair, exhibitors will still be required to send in an entry form to the Michigan State Fair.
Giant Pumpkin Division Terms & Conditions:
Rules:
1. Please read the Michigan State Fair Terms & Conditions. This contest is also under the sanction of the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth (GPC). Exhibitors, please read and follow GPC rules. It is the responsibility of the exhibitor to be familiar with and understand all terms and conditions concerning exhibition.
2. The Specimens must be grown and cared for by the exhibitor. Growers from any state can compete.
3. Specimens that have been previously weighed at a weigh-off contest other than the Michigan State Fair’s will not be eligible for the Michigan State Fair Competition.
4. Each specimen must be sound, healthy and undamaged. Entries must be free of rot, holes and/or cracks through to the interior cavity, chemical residues and serious soft spots. Cracks, holes and openings shall be free of any foreign material. The judges will probe any crack, hole or opening into the specimen which visually appears to extend into the interior cavity. A 36” by 1/16” probe will be provided to the judge to probe any suspect cracks, openings or holes. An opening where the probe meets no resistance into the interior cavity will disqualify the specimen from the completion. The decision of the judges is final.
5. Chemical residues and soil must be cleaned from the specimen before arrival at the Michigan State Fair for the protection of judges, lifters and spectators.
6. The judges have the right to fully inspect each specimen before the official weight is announced. Refusal to allow a thorough inspection of the specimen will result in disqualification.
7. Specimens must clear the scale in sound condition in order for the weight to be official and grower eligible for prize money.
8. In the event of ties, the prize money for that placing and the placing below will be combined and split equally.
9. Exhibitor wishing to retain their pumpkin must state so at time of weigh in. All others become the property of the Michigan State Fair. The top 5 placing pumpkins will remain on display at the MSF until Monday September 1st at 3pm. If the exhibitor is not there at that time, the State Fair has the right to remove the pumpkin. All other pumpkins will be released after weigh in.
10. Prize money will be awarded based on each entry clearing inspection and weight.
11. NEW THIS YEAR: ADITIONAL GIANT VEGETABLE CONTEST FOR FIELD PUMPKINS, SQUASH, LONG GOURDS AND TOMATOES. THESE ENTRIES MUST BE DIFFERENT FROM EXHIBITS IN Department 46 section 3.

Department- 46
Section- 7 Class-1
Prize money will be paid as follows:
1st place $1600 and Champion Banner 2nd place $650
3rd place $450 4th place $250 5th place $150 6th place $130 7th place $110 8th place $110 9th place $100 10th place $100

Class 2 The largest Michigan Pumpkin will receive an additional $400 as long as it places in the top 10.

Premiums for Other Giant Vegetables:
1st $125, 2nd $50, 3rd $25

Class
3 Field Pumpkin -by weight
4 Squash – by weight
5 Long Gourd – by length
6 Tomato – by weight