Travis Gienger of Anoka, Minnesota, secured his fifth grand prize at the 53rd annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off on Monday, October 12, 2026, in Half Moon Bay, California. His massive Volkswagen-sized gourd, affectionately named “Rocky,” tipped the scales at 2,389 pounds to claim the top title in a fiercely contested field of giant pumpkin growers.
The winning entry measured an impressive 138 inches side to side, 131.5 inches end to end, and 231 inches around. Under the official rules of the competition, which is frequently styled as the “Super Bowl of Weigh-Offs,” Gienger earned $9 per pound. This translated to a total cash prize of $21,501. In addition to the monetary reward, he received the coveted Pumpkin King Champion Ring and the Mel Mello Sr. Grand Champion Growers Jacket.
A Stressful Cross-Country Journey
Transporting a gourd weighing well over a ton required an exhausting 35-hour, 2,150-mile road trip from Minnesota across state lines and mountain passes. Gienger admitted that navigating difficult terrain, including treacherous stretches through Lake Tahoe, made for a tense drive.
“It was stressful, you know. You’re white-knuckling it and then going through Tahoe,” Gienger told CBS News. “You got all the trucker bumps, and yeah, it’s an incredible journey.”
Back home, Gienger works as a horticulture teacher and grows his record-breaking gourds in his backyard pumpkin patch in Anoka, a city situated along the Mississippi River north of Minneapolis. Event organizer Ronan Fowler noted that Gienger faced tough climate hurdles this season, including temperatures that dipped below freezing.
“The fact that Travis can weather the elements, like 30-degree weather, and still grow this massive pumpkin is pretty unbelievable,” Fowler said.
History of Championship Wins
The victory marks Gienger’s fifth championship title at the Half Moon Bay competition. His impressive track record of previous winning entries includes:
- 2024: Rudy – 2,471 pounds
- 2023: Michael Jordan – 2,749 pounds (which set a world record at the time)
- 2022: Maverick – 2,560 pounds
- 2020: Tiger King – 2,350 pounds
Gienger missed the 2025 contest because his competing pumpkin broke during the growing season. However, his triumphant return in 2026 allowed him to secure another victory, though “Rocky” fell short of the global record books.
Global Records and Competition Context
While Rocky dominated the California stage, it remained well outside current world records. Days before the Half Moon Bay event, competitive grower Ron Wallace of Greene, Rhode Island, entered a massive 3,156-pound squash at a New England contest, though that remarkable weight awaits formal certification by Guinness World Records. The current official world record is held by twin brothers Ian and Stuart Paton of England, who grew a 2,819-pound, 4-ounce pumpkin in 2025.
Half Moon Bay’s legendary weigh-off traces its roots back to 1974. It originated as a friendly rivalry with Circleville, Ohio, to see which city could cultivate the largest pumpkin. Today, the event draws hundreds of spectators who enjoy food trucks, live music, and festive activities. Following Monday’s weigh-in, Gienger’s winning pumpkin was slated to take part in a festive local parade over the weekend.
