Montana Man Sets State Record with 1,591-Pound Pumpkin

A resident of Montana has broken the state’s record for the heaviest pumpkin, cultivating a massive gourd that surpasses the weight of an average bison.

Joe Nigro, an insurance agent by profession and enthusiastic pumpkin grower, dedicated five years to growing this colossal pumpkin. His effort paid off when he entered it into an agricultural contest in a neighboring state and won the title of Montana’s heaviest pumpkin.

The winning pumpkin measures an astonishing 1,591 pounds, easily eclipsing the previous record of 1,348 pounds set in 2023. Nigro explained that his pumpkin grew “about 10 pounds a day” during its peak growth phase. Last year, Nigro grew a 1,247-pound backup pumpkin for good measure.

Nigro’s passion for pumpkin growing began after friends from the East Coast sent him seeds a few years ago. Since then, he has been cultivating pumpkins annually and entering competitions across the region. His first notable success was a 950-pound pumpkin in 2021, which sparked his ongoing quest for bigger gourds.

His girlfriend, Sidney Sipe, shared that maintaining these giant pumpkins demands daily attention and months of meticulous work. She noted that Nigro considers each pumpkin like a “baby,” and after the competition, he plans to examine and dissect the pumpkin before recycling it.

After his victory, Nigro received $600 in prize money and the title for Montana’s largest pumpkin. His winning gourd will be taken out of the fields after months of labor. He plans to cut open the pumpkin, examine the seeds, and then use it for fun.

Meanwhile, the world record for the largest pumpkin is held by a California grower, who last year nearly broke his own record of 2,749 pounds, coming within 300 pounds of that feat.