1,057-pound pumpkin wins prize at State Fair

SLIDESHOW: State Fair: Pumpkinn takes prize

The Great Pumpkin is really, really big!

Matthew Morris, 10, and his father, Bobby, of Burkeville, won the pumpkin contest yesterday at the State Fair of Virginia with an orange pumpkin weighing in at 1,057 pounds. It took a forklift to hoist the giant onto the scales.

The pumpkin is the second largest ever presented at the fair. The Morrises grew it in their backyard.

The giant pumpkins drew the attention of Davis Wells of Mechanicsville, who makes a hobby of growing large produce but has trouble with pumpkins.

Wells won the blue ribbon for his watermelon weighing 188 pounds. He once grew an 8-pound radish and string beans 30 inches long. His trick is using only organic fertilizers, he said.

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Fairgoers yesterday seemed pleased with the State Fair's new venue, The Meadow Event Park in Doswell. The fair moved this year to Caroline County -- at the birthplace of the famed racehorse Secretariat -- after many years at the Richmond Raceway Complex.

Jay Lugar, an event spokesman, said the early crowds appear likely to beat the fair's five-year average of 250,000 attendees. There was so much interest that the fair's Web site crashed Friday, he said.

"I like the venue," said Richmonder Rodney Wilt. "It's not as congested. It seems more relaxing."

Sue Bush of Chesterfield County said she also liked the spaciousness, but "it's a little short on animals."

Fairgoers could treat themselves to the usual assortment of foods -- chocolate-covered bananas, fried dough and elephant ears -- enjoy the rides and games or mosey among the livestock, flowers and other growing things.

Also on display was a great-grandson of Secretariat, who appeared to be enjoying the attention.

Contact Tyler Whitley at (804) 649-6780 or .