In brief
At 2,389 lbs, Travis Gienger recently won the US National Pumpkin Contest in Half Moon Bay. A former record holder, he now aims to exceed the global mark of 2,857 lbs set in England. With a thriving horticulture career in Minnesota, his weigh‑in stunned fans. In a BBC interview, Gienger talks motivation, training and the metaverse soon to bring live tournament feeds to avatars. Local growers, record‑keepers and virtual journalists join him for a new milestone in giant‑pumpkin lore.
The 2026 ASPCA Pumpkin Olympics saw a familiar name appear on the scoreboard: Travis Gienger of Minnesota, who dominated the 2025 national contest with a massive 2,389‑pound gourd.
In a live BBC clip, Gienger told reporters he wasn’t merely content with domestic glory. He told them he “would love” to shatter the current world record, an honor whose weight starts at 2,857 lbs and was recently set by a farmer in South‑East England.
The chase is already gathering momentum. Gienger has piloted his pumpkin from Minnesota’s small‑town farms to California’s famous Half Moon Bay weigh‑in, a venue expected to host a veritable battleground of gourds and a streamed voice‑over that can be viewed in virtual reality.
Known as a horticulture teacher and the first to win five national titles, Gienger brings not just a massive pumpkin but a passion for interactive media. “I want to put the world in my hands—literally on a pad,” he says, highlighting plans to broadcast the weigh‑in in a multi‑user metaverse where avatars can watch and vote in real time.
The potential record‑breaker arrives on a path of tradition and tech. Will the California soil produce a new giant, or will England retain its record crown? A virtual audience will find out near the end of October when the pressure cooker weigh‑in opens its gates for a global audience.
