Pumpkin man
Floyd County farmer Dwight Slone is a champion pumpkin grower
At the Kentucky State Fair every year, hundreds of people gather in the West Hall of the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville to watch a contest featuring pumpkins that looked like something from a fairy tale.
They come to see the Largest Pumpkin and Watermelon Contest, and one of the stars of the show: Dwight Slone, a Floyd County farmer and retired municipal worker whose passion is growing pumpkins the size of Harley-Davidsons. Slone is a multi-time champion, a one-man dynasty in this particular competition, and until this year, held the Kentucky State Fair record for largest pumpkin grown (1,663 pounds, set in 2021). In 2025, his entry was a white pumpkin so large, it took a forklift and a six-person crew to lower it onto the official scale.
That pumpkin (Slone doesn’t usually name them) weighed in at 1,166.8 pounds. Impressive, though not enough to claim the $3,242 first prize that year. However, he did earn a hearty round of applause from the audience. He would have liked to have won, of course, but for Slone, the appeal of the practice is as much about the people as the pumpkins.
“It ain’t something you see every day—you see one of these huge pumpkins—and the amazement on people’s faces when they see them,” Slone says. “That’s pretty cool.”
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture sponsors the annual contest, which was held again at this year’s Kentucky State Fair on Aug. 22. Grayson County grower Josh Monin took home first place, and a new State Fair record: 1,882.4 pounds. Despite a difficult growing season—and initially planning to skip the event—Slone decided to bring a pumpkin to the fair. As judges recorded its weight—355.6 pounds—Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell praised his knowledge and willingness to mentor other growers.
“I consider Dwight to be kind of like the granddaddy of all of us up here,” Shell told attendees. “He’s open with every bit of the information; he keeps no secrets; he wants everybody to succeed.”
Shell says the Largest Pumpkin and Watermelon Contest “showcases the innovation, dedication and passion of Kentucky growers. While they may be fun to see, they represent the same skills that all successful farmers use every day—soil management, crop nutrition, pest control and a commitment to producing a quality product.” Shell adds, “It’s a way to get people excited about agriculture and to showcase Kentucky farming in a fun, unique way.”
Slone grows Atlantic Giant pumpkins using seeds collected from his own pumpkins or purchased from other growers. Photo: Tim Webb
How it began
Slone got his start in the field of giant pumpkin growing nearly 20 years ago. He and his then-girlfriend (now wife) Karen had taken a trip to the Kentucky State Fair and watched Frank Mudd of Meade County present an 800-pound pumpkin. “I had never at that point seen a pumpkin like that, and I just thought, ‘Heck, I think I’ll try that.’”
Mudd, a consumer-member of Meade County RECC, became a legend of giant fruit growing, with watermelon his preferred medium. Mudd, who retired from competition in 2024, explains, “I have taken a [giant] watermelon to the state fair for 23 years. Came in first 20 times, was tied once and lost two times and the two individuals that tied and beat me were ones I had helped to get started.” Mudd says Slone is “a really good fellow and a really good pumpkin grower.”
Slone’s agricultural prowess is evidenced by the reactions his produce inspires when he’s competing at the State Fair or even on his way there. Slone loads the giant pumpkin in the back of his truck and he’s seen it receive double takes on Interstate 64 at 70 miles an hour.
“There’ll be people flying by you, and then all of a sudden you see brake lights. People back up and have to look at it,” Slone says. “It’s one of the most fun parts of it, to be honest with you—people’s reaction when they see [the pumpkin]. If you stop to get gas, you might as well plan on being there 20 minutes, because people stop to ask questions.”
Slone understands that his pumpkin passion project inspires natural questions, like, “What on earth is that? And how did it get to be the size of an Angus beef cow?”
Slone’s growing regimen includes soil tests, multiple fertilizers and care to prevent splitting and rotting. Photo: Tim Webb
The pumpkins he grows are known as Atlantic Giants (Cucurbita maxima). The growing regimen involves a soil test, as well as the right combination of water, multiple fertilizers and physical care so they grow without splitting or rotting. He generally plants them in spring and their growth rate is gradual—at first. In early June, the pumpkin he’d planned to enter for the State Fair competition was “about the size of a softball,” Slone says. To make weight, “They’ll grow about anywhere from 30 to 50 pounds a day in peak growth. It’s pretty amazing.”
Slone grows his pumpkins from seeds gathered from other giant pumpkins. He might use seeds from his own pumpkins or that he’s purchased from stores, online markets or other growers. There is, it turns out, a global network of people passionate about producing prodigious pumpkins. Known as The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, it helps set up contests like the Kentucky State Fair’s, gives out awards and hosts the annual International Growers’ Convention, which Slone has attended.
There he met growers from “every walk of life you can imagine,” he says—men, women and kids who come from different countries, backgrounds, incomes and careers. “It seems like most of us are pretty much in it for the same reason, even though we’re totally different people,” Slone says.
One other question the presence and practice of giant pumpkin growing prompts: What happens to the pumpkins after the contest? While they’re not strictly inedible, Slone says they’re not delicious and their enormity tends to make their shape too asymmetrical to serve as, say, giant jack-o’-lanterns. They’re a little like racehorses, bred for competition, but for a relatively short season. What’s the pumpkin equivalent of being put out to stud?
The final purpose of Slone’s pumpkins is often to feed the deer in the Floyd County woods, but prior to that, they have a last hurrah at the Jenny Wiley Festival in Prestonsburg every October. (See sidebar.) There, children and adults come by, occasionally squeal with wonder and delight and take pictures. Since 2009, Slone has asked visitors to donate to the Floyd County Animal Shelter, a practice that reliably raises thousands of dollars a year.
The pumpkin-puppy partnership came about naturally since Slone’s wife is president of the shelter’s board of directors. At the Jenny Wiley festival, it becomes clear that her husband has cultivated something more than just a gargantuan gourd.
“You’ll hear, ‘Is that real?’ Or, ‘Can I touch it?’” Karen Slone says. “Everybody loves seeing the pumpkins, so we do it for the community.”
Slone’s 2025 Kentucky State Fair entry weighed in at 1,166.8 pounds. Photo: Graham Shelby
Think you might want to compete in a future edition of the Kentucky State Fair Largest Pumpkin and Watermelon Contest? Check out these helpful links:
Kentucky Living produced this short video about Dwight Slone’s then-record-breaking 2017 entry in the state fair’s Largest Pumpkin and Watermelon Contest.
Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, a global network of people who are passionate about giant pumpkins.
A website for the community of giant pumpkin growers and their fans.
Information about the history of pumpkin growing.
Video from the Associated Press: “How Giant Pumpkins Grow So Big”.
Time lapse video of a giant pumpkin’s growth cycle.
Interview with Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell
In this interview with Kentucky Living, Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell talks about the experience of attending the Kentucky State Fair’s Largest Pumpkin and Watermelon Contest and what he’s learned from getting to know farmers like Dwight Slone.
KL: Why does the state sponsor a Largest Pumpkin and Watermelon Contest at the Kentucky State Fair? How does this fit into the world of Kentucky agriculture?
SHELL: The Kentucky State Fair is about celebrating all aspects of agriculture, and the Largest Pumpkin and Watermelon Contest showcases the innovation, dedication and passion of Kentucky growers. While they may be fun to see, they represent the same skills that all successful farmers use every day—soil management, crop nutrition, pest control, and a commitment to producing a quality product. These contests help connect fairgoers with agriculture in a memorable way and highlight the diversity of crops grown across Kentucky.
KL: What is the value of giant pumpkins to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the people of Kentucky?
SHELL: Giant pumpkins create excitement around agriculture. They spark curiosity, especially among children, and provide an opportunity to start conversations about farming, horticulture and where our food comes from. For the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, they are a great tool for agricultural education and public engagement. For Kentuckians, they are a source of pride and a reminder of the hard work and talent of our growers. They also help attract visitors to the State Fair and showcase Kentucky agriculture to a broader audience.
KL: How would you describe the atmosphere at the pumpkin-weighing ceremony at the State Fair?
SHELL: It’s one of the most anticipated and exciting moments of the fair. There’s a real sense of anticipation as growers bring in pumpkins they’ve spent months nurturing and caring for. You see families, farmers and fairgoers gathered around, all eager to see the final weight. It’s competitive, but it’s also a celebration of agriculture and community. The excitement is contagious, and it’s a great example of how agriculture can bring people together while creating lasting memories for fair visitors of all ages.
KL: What do you remember about the first time you met Dwight Slone?
SHELL: I remember Dwight wearing a leather bomber jacket that had “Pumpkin Man” or something similar written on it, and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. We actually met at a political event in Floyd County, and his enthusiasm for giant pumpkins immediately stood out. You could tell right away how passionate he was about what he does.
KL: How would you describe him overall?
SHELL: Dwight is one of the most passionate and energetic people I’ve ever been around. What stands out most is that he genuinely wants to see other people succeed. He’s not someone who keeps secrets or tries to get ahead by himself—he’s always willing to share what he’s learned and help others grow.
The giant pumpkin community is just one piece of who he is. He’s deeply committed to his community in eastern Kentucky and cares about the future of agriculture there. One of the things he talks to me about most is making sure small farmers in Eastern Kentucky have access to the same resources and opportunities as producers in other parts of the state. That commitment to helping others is what I admire most about Dwight.
KL: Dwight said you contacted him about growing your own giant pumpkins. What led you to explore that?
SHELL: It just looked like a lot of fun. More than that, it looked like a real community, and I wanted to be part of it. When I saw what Dwight was doing and experienced the excitement around the giant pumpkin competition at the Kentucky State Fair, I saw how welcoming everyone was. There’s definitely a competitive spirit, but everyone is pulling for each other, too. Dwight deserves a lot of the credit. He kept telling me, “You ought to do this,” and eventually I took him up on it. I was already growing field pumpkins on my farm, so trying my hand at giant pumpkins felt like a natural fit.
It’s become so much more than just growing a big pumpkin. It’s a way to get people excited about agriculture and to showcase Kentucky farming in a fun, unique way. The pumpkin weigh-off has grown into one of the most anticipated events at the State Fair, drawing hundreds—if not thousands—of people each year. It’s just a really enjoyable event that brings people together, and that’s what makes it so special.
KL: What kind of advice did Dwight give you on growing your own pumpkins?
SHELL: Every year seems to bring a new challenge, so I’m always calling Dwight for advice. I’ll do everything he told me the year before, and then something different happens, and it’s back to the drawing board.
What he’s really taught me is that growing a giant pumpkin is all about managing the things you can control. That means making sure the plant gets enough water, the right nutrients, and protection from the elements. But above all, he’s emphasized that the health of the vine is the most important part of the process. Dwight always says if you take care of the plant and the vine, the pumpkin will take care of itself. That’s probably the best piece of advice he’s given me, and it’s proven to be true.
Pumpkin-themed celebrations across Kentucky
Pumpkins of all sizes are a big part of numerous festivals across Kentucky this fall. Here’s a look at a few that might be worth carving out some time to attend.
Prestonsburg: The Jenny Wiley Festival brings thousands of people downtown for a four-day community celebration featuring carnival rides, games, live music, crafts, a parade and more, including an appearance from The Pumpkin Man himself, Dwight Slone (see main story) and his giant, award-winning locally grown pumpkins.
Oct. 7–10
jwfestival.com
Louisville: The Jack O’Lantern Spectacular in Iroquois Park is essentially a short hiking trail through an outdoor art gallery with a wide range of images carved onto about 5,000 pumpkins.
Oct. 1–Nov. 1
jackolanternlouisville.org
Bowling Green: Jackson’s Orchard Pumpkin Festival offers a wagon ride to their pumpkin patch along with pony rides, a corn maze, fresh apple cider and plenty of food.
Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 25
jacksonsorchard.com/feature/pumpkin-fest
For more information on festivals and events throughout Kentucky visit: kentuckyliving.com/events
