Minnesota Pumpkin Grower Squashes Insane World Pumpkin Record

A horticulture teacher from Minnesota had a dream of growing pumpkins just to make people smile. Now his pumpkins have been breaking records weighing in at over 2,000 pounds. Oh, my "gourd!"

Travis Gienger from Anoka, Minnesota and his pumpkin "Michael Jordan" dominated the annual World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California. The champion pumpkin grower and his massive pumpkin were on a mission to break the world record for the heaviest pumpkin. Good news! Mission accomplished!

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An article from FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul confirms that Travis and "Michael Jordan" are the newest world record holders for the largest pumpkin ever grown. In honor of the year 2023, The Giant "Michael Jordan" pumpkin weighed in at...

2,749 POUNDS!! That's a lot of pumpkin pie! You'll probably need a giant can of whipped cream to go with it.

It's hard to believe "Michael Jordan" started as a perfectly round-shaped gourd. This pumpkin alone is equivalent to 2,110 basketballs and 275 jack-o'-lanterns.

In a previous story in 2022, Travis Gienger introduced FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul to Maverick the Pumpkin. At 2,560 pounds, it was carved into the world's largest jack-o-lantern. The pumpkin was displayed outside Anoka City Hall.

The previous world record heavyweight champion pumpkin was 2,702.8 pounds, which was set by Stefano Cutrupi of Italy in 2021. I remember when I wrote about Travis and his pumpkins last October. I had confidence that he could break the record in the Guinness World Records one day for the heaviest pumpkin. Look where Travis is today! A world record holder!

Congratulations, Travis, and to the Great Michael Jordan Pumpkin!