Tuesday, September 30, 2014

The Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival Chili Cook-off Winner

Chili Cook-off at Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' FestivalHere are the results for the 2014 Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival Chili Cook-off.

The winner is Mark Browning from Barre, by a thin 2 vote margin:

  • 1st Mark Browning from Barre - 28 votes
  • 2nd Ken Elwood - 26 votes
  • 3rd Regina Crosby / Stowe Barber Shop - 22 votes
Mark now has bragging rights when talking about his chili. Good job by all of our contestants.

Thanks again to Deb from Deb's Place in Morrisville for running this year's contest.

Winners for 2014 Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival

Results for 2014, 6th Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival

All the distances above are adjusted up to the heavyweight height (what they would throw if their trebuchet was ten feet tall) and also adjusted down if their trebuchet was over height or overweight for their division.

Best distance by Hammer of the Gourds should be “best actual distance,” which means how far the pumpkin actually went without the penalty. In this case, the best distance 626 feet, actually went a short distance out of the field, but when adjusted down because they were 160 pounds overweight, it was actually not their best competitive throw. Not withstanding, the 626 foot throw was a definite crowd pleaser and very dramatic since it took the team several attempts and 10 minutes to finally fire the trebuchet successfully without the release pin sticking under the extra weight.

Trophies were awarded to the top three in each division. The winner in each division got $50 cash. The winners of each of the four divisions compete against each other using the adjusted distance for best design. The winner of the best design got the “Best Design” highest trophy, and an extra $50 in cash, which makes a total of $100 cash, since they also won $50 for winning their division.

We had 4 prizes donated by our sponsors which we awarded by choice in the order of their adjusted distances. In other words, best adjusted distance got 1st choice of the 4 prizes. Second place adjusted distance got 1st choice of the three prizes left and so on.
  • First choice (Taste of the Sky, from Stowe Soaring) went to Team Jordan with a best adjusted throw of 514 feet.
  • Second choice (Bee’s Knees $50 gift certificate) went to Hammer of the Gourds with a best adjusted throw of 498 feet.
  • Third choice (Trattoria La Festa $50 gift certificate) went to Carbon Destroyer with a best adjusted throw of 496 feet.
  • Fourth choice (Canoe or Kayak rental, from Umiak Outfitters) went to Queen Christine with a best adjusted throw of 443 feet
Best Design (Pumpkin Chuckin Champion) went to Team Jordan, the oldest team in the competition and well deserved since they came in 2nd and 3rd the last two years.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Happy Pumpkin Chuckin' Season

Tomorrow's 6th Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival at Stoweflake Mountain Resort kicks off the fall pumpkin hurling season in the United States.

The weather for Sunday, Sept. 28th in Stowe, VT, looks absolutely fantastic for the festival – 0% chance of rain, high of 82° and light wind.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone there.

By the way, here is a list of some of the upcoming fall pumpkin chuckin' contests around the country:

Punkin Chunkin Colorado – October 11-12, 2014
Arapahoe Park Horse Track
Aurora, Colorado

Girard Pumpkin Festival with Punkin Chunkin – October 11, 2014
Girard Chamber of Commerce
"Pumpkin Park," Farmersville Road
Girard, Illinois

Chuck Wagon Punkin Chunkin – October 18, 2014
Clayton Chamber of Commerce, downtown Clayton
Clayton, NY

Fall Punkin' Chunkin' Festival – October 18, 2014
Howard Volunteer Fire Company
Bald Eagle State Park
Howard, PA

Pumpkin Chuckin' 2014  – October 18, 2014
Midland Center for the Arts
Midland County Fairgrounds
Midland, Michigan

Prickett's Punkin Chunkin at the Fall Fling Festival – October 18, 2014
Burlington County Fairgrounds
Springfield, NJ

Last Fling Pumpkin Sling – October 18-19, 2014
Pocono Raceway
Long Pond, PA

Great Pumpkin Farm Trebuchet Contest – October 18-19, 2014
Great Pumpkin Farm
Clarence, New York

The Pumpkin Fling – October 25, 2014
Suffolk County Farm and Education Center
Yaphank, NY

Moab Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival – October 25, 2014
Grand County High School
Moab, Utah

The Great Pumpkin Festival – October 25, 2014
Union Grove Chamber of Commerce
Racine County Fairgrounds
Union Grove, Wisconsin

Clay County Punkin' Chunkin' – October 25-26, 2014
Clay County Chamber of Commerce
811 Settawig Rd.
Brasstown, North Carolina

World Championship Punkin Chunkin – October 24-26, 2014
Dover International Speedway
Dover, Delaware

Tucson Pumpkin Toss – November 1, 2014
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ

Cal State Fullerton Pumpkin Launch – November 2, 2014
Fullerton, California

Annual Punkin’ Chunkin’ – November 9, 2014
Elmer United Methodist Church
Zeck's Farm - 91 Pinyard Road
Monroeville, NJ

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Countdown to the VT Pumpkin Chuckin'

There are now only 4 days until the 5th Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival this Sunday, September 28th, 2014, at Stoweflake Mountain Resort in Stowe.

Thank you to WCAX-TV in Burlington for doing a short feature on the festival with our own Dave Jordan.

Unfortunately when we checked the WCAX video link out (here below) several times there was a random, extra long 1:59 commercial with about 1:39 of dead time before you got to the report on the Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival. Just hang in there if you want to watch it.

WCAX News: Pumpkin Chuckin' (3:55 video)
STOWE, Vt. - The Annual Pumpkin Chuckin' is just days away.  Festival organizer Dave Jordan stopped by the studio to talk about the event.

The festival takes place Sun., Sept. 28, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Stoweflake Mountain Resort in Stowe. Tickets are $5 for ages 5 and over.
-----
WCAX News, September 23rd, story on Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin'

-----

As a reminder, please feel free to bring umbrellas, chairs or blankets. The event goes on rain or shine.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

VT Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival News & Announcements

Updated: Sept. 12, 2014
Defending champ is not defending.

Dwight Snowberger, two-time Grand prize winner from Connecticut is not able to defend his title at this year's festival, because he is working in England. A new champion will be crowned!

The smart money is on Team Jordan which has come in 2nd twice, making them very hungry. Dark horse teams are: Nick Helms (5x competitor), Cambridge Cub Scouts (5x competitor), Chris McGrody (Heavyweight winner 2013), Plattsburgh Physics (Grand prize winner 2011), Cambridge Boy Scouts (Middleweight winner 2011).
-----
Entertainment:
Entertainment will include three bands featuring House Dunn, a bounce house and other kid activities, Nightmare Vermont roaming the field with scary creatures, food, beer, wine, chili cook-off, and popcorn. Here are some details you should know before you head out.
----
  • Free parking. Just before the Sunset Grill on Cottage Club Road. Look for signs on Rt 100 or Mountain Road in Stowe.
  • Handicap parking at event field.
  • Free shuttle from parking area to event field (if a ¼ mile walk is too taxing)
  • Please no dogs or outside food or beverages.
-----
Schedule:

11am: Gates open for spectators. John Smyth, a singer/songwriter performs while you check out the trebuchet teams preparing for competition.

12:15pm the Chili Cook-off Contest begins. For $5 you can sample the chili and vote for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Best chili get $100, 2nd gets $50, 3rd get $25. (The cook-off goes until the end of festival or we are out of chili.)

12:15 Festival introduction: Founder, Dave Jordan, will explain with a trebuchet is, discuss motivation for festival, weight classes, design concepts.

12:30: First round: The MC starts with the Lightweight Division and asks each team to fire their weapon when ready. The teams have 1 minute to fire, then the MC moves to the next team. After all the lightweights have fired, we move to the Middleweights, and onto the Heavyweights, then we take a break to hear some excellent music by House Dunn.

1:30: Second round: Same as first round. Ball Hammock band plays.

2:30: Third round: Same as second. House Dunn band plays.

3:30: Announce winners and awards prizes. Grand prize of Best Design get $100, the winners of each division get $50.

Lamoille Family Center will sponsor kid activities during 12:30 to 3:30. Most of the activities will be free, or with a nominal fee to cover expenses. There will be a bounce house. Also Nightmare Vermont has volunteered to provide scary creatures to enhance the event.
-----
Food:

Stoweflake Resort will serve food, beer and wine. You can also sample the chili and help vote for the winners. Stowe Youth Hockey will also be selling popcorn.
-----
Notes for trebuchet competitors:

Registration starts at 10am, Sunday, Sept 28, 2014. Trebuchet teams can set up the day before on the Stoweflake Event field (Saturday), if desired. All trebuchets must be weighed and measured for registration, so please don't leave them staked down until after they are registered. The heavyweights are difficult because it takes 4 people to lift them and put them on the scales. Also all pumpkins must be weighed to make sure they are heavy enough. Please bring your own pumpkins, at least 3, 1 for each round. Round 1 starts at 12:30. You have 1 minute to fire your weapon.

Please be ready to fire when your turn comes so we can keep things moving along. Each division has their own tournament, $50 goes to the winner, with trophies being awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. The 4 winners compete for the grand prize based on who threw the farthest after being adjusted for their height. The Grand prize winners gets an extra $50 bringing their prize money to $100. The last 4 years, the Middleweight Open Division has won the Grand Prize.

Any questions or to sign up contact Dave Jordan via email at Djordan@gmavt.net to let me know you are planning on competing and which division (Heavyweight, Middleweight Open, Middleweight Junior, Lightweight). Don't send any money. It is easier to collect the money on Sunday. Each competitor pays $5. Each spectator over 4 years old, also pays $5. So anybody coming into the festival pays $5.
-----
Notes for chili cook-off competitors:

Be ready to serve at 12:15pm. Bring at least 2 gallons of chili to be judged. Tables, electricity and tents will be provided. Bring your own chairs, if desired. Spoons and bowls will be provided. Citizen's choice, the public will vote for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. First place gets $100, 2nd gets $50 and 3rd gets $25.

Any questions or to sign up contact Deb Papineau at Deb's Place (deb@debsplace.com)
-----

There are only 19 days until the 6th Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival

Saturday, September 6, 2014

The Chili Cook-off Contest Update

Chili Cook-off at Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival
For the second year in a row there will be a savory Chili Cook-off contest at this year's 6th Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival, Sunday, September 28th, 2014, at Stoweflake Mountain Resort, Stowe, VT.

People's Choice Chili Cook-off Contest

Chili Cook-off: For $5 the public can get a sample of each competitors concoction and vote for first, second and third place. First place gets $100, second get $50 and third gets $25. To compete, bring 2 gallons of chili to the event. Chili Cook-off competitors receive free admission to the Festival, free exposure for your chili, and a chance of winning prize money. 
    Deb Papineau, is the owner Deb's Place in Morrisville. And she has graciously agreed to run the Chili Cook-off this year. Deb was the winner of last year's competition, but will not be competing this year. So the competition will be wide open to anyone with a great chili recipe and and a dream.

    To register, or for more information, email Deb Papineau at deb@debsplaceinfo.com.

    Time: The Chili competitors have to be ready to start serving their chili at 12:15 pm. So please plan accordingly.
    -----
    Chili Cook-off Rules (updated 9/12/14):
    1. Contact Deb Papineau via email to register or ask questions: email: deb@debsplaceinfo.com
    2. Each competitor must supply 2 gallons of chili to be judged by the people.
    3. Entry is free for the competitor and up to 4 of his team to the competition and festival. Any more than 5 in a team will be charged $5 to get into the festival.
    4. Electricity will be provided. Tents will be provided. Portable burners are allowed.
    5. Event goes on rain or shine, so come prepared with a canopy.
    6. Seating: Not provided, bring your own, if desired.
    7. The Chili cook-off competitors have to be ready to start serving their chili at 12:15 pm.
    8. Bowls, spoons and samplers will be provided.