When Big Just Isn’t Big Enough

Geneva and Don Emmons’ pumpkin won the $2,000 top prize in a weigh-off, but their orange monster wasn’t big enough to challenge the world’s record of 990 pounds.

The gourd tipped the scales at 939 pounds - 51 short of the world record - at the Pacific Northwest Pumpkin Association’s weigh-in in Clackamas, Ore., last weekend.

The Emmonses’ pumpkin grew to humongous proportions of 13-1/2 feet around and 9 feet tall in their pumpkin patch in Issaquah, east of Seattle. Don Emmons said he and his wife will try to grow a 1,000-pounder next year, which could mean a prize of $10,000.