Results of Sept. 29th, 2019 Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin Festival

We had a beautiful sunny day at the Stoweflake Resort and Spa for the eleventh annual
Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin Festival with 14 teams competing in the chuck, 3 teams in the
Chili Cook Off, 31 volunteers and over 1,000 spectators enjoying the chuckin, chili, beer,
wine, food, raffles, two bands, face-painting, and games. Over $13,000 was raised for the
Clarina Howard Nichols Center (Morrisville) whose staff and volunteers did an amazing
job running the festival. The Clarina Howard Nichols Center is doing great work and they
did a fantastic job running the festival for the second year in a row!

Stapleton family sweep using the new “walking arm” trebuchet design!

For the 2nd year in a row, Orion Stapleton won the overall Grand Prize coming out of the
Lightweight Division. His dad, Jonathan Stapleton, won the Heavyweight division. John
was gracious enough to put an “instructable” up on our festival blog showing a video,
pictures and text to build his new “walking arm” trebuchet design and showing how to
scale it up to middleweight or heavyweight division.

Special mention:

Theresa Tipper has come many years in a row and this year brought 3 trebuchets to
compete in the Lightweight Division! Nick Helms has competed 10 out of eleven years
(more than any other competitor, including the organizer Dave Jordan) and brought a
totally new design this year to the festival. The Chamberlain brothers from Moosilauke,
NH are usually the first to arrive (a day early) and this year was no different. But this
year, they split divisions with Ray staying in the Middleweight and Ed moving up to the
Heavyweight Division. One of many father/son teams competed with Steven and Steve
McCann with the son beating the father, just as Orion beat his dad (Jon Stapleton). Don
Jordan (father of the organizer) competed for the 9th time at age 89!

New competitors:

We had a number of new competitors this year: Finn Riley and John (Muddy Dogs), Tyler
Barnard and Julie (Engineering Ventures), Andy Smith, Chris Boudreau, Juan barena,
Kellen Louis, and Tom Laroche (Heritage Aviation)

Results of the trebuchet contest:

Lightweight Division (age 10 and under, trebuchet limited to 20 lbs. and 41”)

• 1st place trophy plus $50 cash: Orion Stapleton from VT.
• 2nd place trophy plus $25 cash: Theresa Tipper from VT. (Tipper A)
• 3rd place trophy plus $10 cash: Theresa Tipper from VT. (Tipper B)
• 4th place: Theresa Tipper from VT. (Tipper C)

Middleweight Junior Division (age 17 and under, trebuchet limited to 100 lbs. and 70”)

• 1st place trophy plus $50 cash: Steven McCann from Maine. (MAX D 23)
• 2nd place trophy plus $25 cash: Finnian Riley from VT. (Muddy Dogs)

Middleweight Open Division: (any age, trebuchet limited to 100 lbs. and 70”)

• 1st place trophy plus $50 cash: Ray Chamberlain from NH (Moosilauke Hurlers)
• 2nd place trophy plus $25 cash: Tyler Barnard from VT. (Engineering Ventures)
• 3rd place trophy plus $10 cash: Don Jordan from NY. (Team Jordan)

Heavyweight Division: (any age, trebuchet limited to 500 lbs. and 120”)

• 1st place trophy plus $50 cash: Jonathan Stapleton from VT.
• 2nd place trophy plus $25 cash: Ed Chamberlain from NH. (Moosilauke Hurlers)

Grand Prize Best Design trophy plus $50 cash: Orion Stapleton
Summary of all competitors (all distances adjusted and scaled up to Heavyweight)
Lightweight Division: (scaling 2.9268)

• 1st place: Orion Stapleton, 658 feet
• 2nd place: Theresa Tipper, (Tippers B) 223 feet
• 3rd place: Theresa Tipper (Tippers C) 181 feet
• 4th place: Theresa Tipper (Tipper A) 118 feet

Middleweight Junior Division: (scaling 1.7142)

• 1st place: Steven McCann, (MAX D 23) 319 feet
• 2nd place: Finnian Riley, (Muddy Dogs) 41 feet

Middleweight Open Division: (scaling 1.7142)

• 1st place: Ray Chamberlain, (Moosilauke Hurlers) 503 feet
• 2nd place: Tyler Barnard, (Engineering Ventures) 499 feet
• 3rd place: Don Jordan, (Team Jordan) 439 feet
• 4th place: Nick Helms, (Weapons of Mass Destruction) 357 feet
• 5th place: Steve McCann (MAX D 23) 319 feet
• 6th place: Andy Smith (Heritage Aviation) 317 feet

Heavyweight Division: (no scaling)

• 1st place: John Stapleton, 487 feet
• 2nd place: Ed Chamberlain (Moosilauke Hurlers) 181 feet

Chili Cook-Off:

The chili cook-off was a great success with three competitors and running out of chili
before the end of the festival. Thanks for Deb Papineau (Deb's Place) for running the
show.

Sponsors and Volunteers:

Thanks to our main sponsor, Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa for letting us use their
beautiful field for free, as well as all the other sponsors:

Heavy Weight Sponsors – N.A. Manosh and NorthCountry Federal Credit Union
Middle Weight Sponsors – Bourne’s Energy, Casella, Community National Bank, and Jay
Peak Resort
Light Weight Sponsors – Coldwell Banker Carlson Real Estate, Deb’s Place, Donald P.
Blake Jr., Inc., Edward Jones – Caren Merson, Leaves of Change VT, MSI, Stowe Motel,
Olsen and Associates, PP&D Distribution, The Alchemist, The Bagel, Umiak Outdoor
Outfitters, UPS Store, Yellow Turtle

Special thanks to Bruce Wallace and his family for being the Master of Ceremonies and
helping for the last 9 years, to Phil, Ethan, Ed, Brian, Kelsey for registration and
calculating the winners, to Tricia Kules (Little River Survey) for accurate distance
readings, to Mike Dunn for excellent sound system and House Dunn (Mike, Isabella,
Jocelyn and Julia, and John Smyth for great music, to Bob Gross for helping out with
safety and setup for the last 10 years, to Dan McLaughlin for tent setup.

Please contact me with any suggestions for next year's festival or corrections to this
write-up. Djordan@gmavt.net

We look forward to the next festival, Sept. 27th, 2020 at the Stoweflake.

Dave Jordan
Festival organizer
161 Henway Road
Morrisville, VT 05661

People’s Choice Chili Cook-off Contest

A reminder that the People's Choice Chili Cook-off Contest is open to one and all at this year's VTPC.

For the sixth year in a row, the Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin Festival is proud to offer a People’s Choice Chili Contest. The festival is at Stoweflake Mountain Resort on Sunday, Sept 29th,2019. Whip up 2 gallons of your best chili and you get in for free AND a chance to win $100 if your chili is voted best!

Rules:

1. Each competitor must supply at least 2 gallons of chili to be judged by the people.
2. Each competitor must supply an electric crockpot to keep the chili warm. Electricity and a test will be provided.
3. Event is held rain or shine, Sunday, Sept 29th, 2019.
4. Contest will start at 12:15pm and end roughly at 2:30, or when chili runs out.
5. Samplers, bowls, napkins and spoons will be provided.
6. Preregistration is encouraged, but not required.
7. If you plan to compete, please email Dave Jordan (organizer) the following information to DJordan@gmavt.net.

• a. Name
• b. Team Name (Optional)
• c. Email address
• d. Telephone number
• e. Chili Recipe name and description
• f. Ingredients (Optional)

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updated Final Throw:

Thanks for putting us on the list!

NewEngland.com:
5 Best Pumpkin Festivals in New England --

Looking for phenomenal fall celebrations? These annual events are the 5 best pumpkin festivals in New England!

• Pumpkintown USA | East Hampton, CT | September 21-October 31, 2019
• NH Pumpkin Festival | Laconia, NH | October 18-19, 2019
• Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival | Stowe, VT | September 29, 2019
• Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular | Providence, RI | October 3 – November 3, 2019
• Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta | Damariscotta, ME | October 11-14, 2019

World's Simplest and Newest Trebuchet (Walking Arm Trebuchet)

We recently received a very informative and interesting email from Jonathan Stapleton our 2018 VTPC Heavyweight Champion and current world record holder (700 feet). His son, Orion Stapleton, won last year's Lightweight Division and the overall Grand Championship for Best Design of a trebuchet. Orion's lightweight trebuchet, named Demolisher, demolished the competition with a throw of 266 feet, which was 180 feet better than the 2nd place competitor. Orion's trebuchet also beat the 200 foot lightweight world record that his sister, Emmerson Stapleton, had held since 2016 with her "Destroyer" trebuchet. At the Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' competition lightweight trebuchets are required to weigh less than 20 lbs. and be under 41" in height.

The Stapleton's have achieved their dominance of the VTPC competition over the years with a very unique and innovative trebuchet design called the "Walking Arm Trebuchet." This design looks so simple and straightforward that almost anyone should be able to build one.

The Stapleton's have graciously published an excellent Instructables.com article showing and explaining how to build this incredible trebuchet. You should all check it out.

By Mr. Stapleton / Instructables.com:

World's Simplest and Newest Trebuchet (Walking Arm Trebuchet) --

This is the world premier of our new trebuchet design. Not only is the trebuchet simple, it is extremely efficient. It has many of the advantages of a floating arm trebuchet, but with fewer parts, less friction, and a unique projectile launch path. As you can see in my son's video, above, the projectile never swings backward beyond its starting point, reducing the dangers to bystanders behind the trebuchet....

Stapleton Walking Arm Trebuchet

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Final Throw

A big hat tip to Boston.com

Thanks for recognizing our win in the USA Today Best Fall Festival. And for talking up other great New England Fall festivals:

USA Today readers say this New England fall festival is the best in America

There are now only 17 days 'till 11th Annual VTPC

2019 VTPC Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact Person: Dave Jordan
Phone: 603-630-4800
Email: Djordan@gmavt.net
Website: VTPumpkinChuckin.blogspot.com
Charity name: Clarina Howard Nichols Center, Morrisville, VT

11th Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin Festival

Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa to Host 2019 Festival

Proceeds of Sept. 29th event to benefit Clarina Howard Nichols Center

Stowe, Vermont, Aug. 29, 2019 – This year marks 11 years of the Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin’
(VTPC) Festival and the first year that the festival was awarded the Best Fall Festival in the nation by USA Today! This festival celebrates the sport of “chuckin’” pumpkins, for distance, using a do-it-yourself constructed trebuchet, which is a gravity-powered catapult. Festival founder Dave Jordan describes the event as a cross between a Soap Box Derby (amateur building/engineering) and a shot put contest (throwing for distance). The event is a great opportunity for kids of all ages to build something with their hands and engage in some family friendly competition. Last year, Orion Stapleton was the first kid competing in the Lightweight category to win the overall contest with a new record of 780 feet (scaled up to Heavyweight); beating his dad Jonathan Stapleton who ONLY threw 700 feet.

The VTPC Festival is a one-day event and is sponsored by the Stoweflake Resort and Spa and many other local sponsors. The event benefits the Clarina Howard Nichols Center. Founded in 1981, the Center works to end domestic and sexual violence in Lamoille County. Mark your calendar for Sunday, September 29th, 2019.

The Festival runs from 11am to 4pm and features three rounds of competitive pumpkin chuckin’ at 12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2:30pm, with awards shortly after the last round. No dogs, outside food or beverage are allowed at the event.

Admission to the Festival is $10.00 and parking is free. Food, beer and wine will be sold by
Stoweflake.

Along with the pumpkin chuckin’ contest there will be music, a chili cook-off, and kids activities;
all creating an enjoyable fall day. Music for this year's festival will be provided by two bands: House Dunn and John Smyth. No preregistration is required for the trebuchet contest or chili cookoff. There is plenty of time to build a fine trebuchet, or prepare your best chili for the chili
cookoff.

It costs $10 to enter the festival if you are a spectator or trebuchet competitor, but you get in free if you make 2 gallons of chili and compete in the chili cookoff.

INFO: Specifications, rules, and entry information can be found on the festival's website at www.vtpumpkinchuckin.blogspot.com or contact the festival organizer Dave Jordan at DJordan@GMAVT.com

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Official Rules for competitors

It's Final: The Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival is Number 1 Fan Favorite Fall Festival in USA

Thanks to all our friends, relatives, volunteers, friends of friends, friends of relatives, and all our passionate fans, who voted us the number one US Fall Festival in the month long USA Today, 10Best.com, Best Fall Festival Contest.

Out of the twenty contestants we finished number one overall. Here are your top ten winners:

1. Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival, Stowe, Vermont
2. West Side Nut Club Fall Festival (IN)
3. Trailing of the Sheep Festival (ID)
4. Great Cortland Pumpkinfest (NY)
5. National Apple Harvest Festival (PA) 
6. NH Pumpkin Festival (NH)
7. Warrens Cranberry Festival (WI)
8. Columbus Oktoberfest (OH)
9. Hood River Valley Harvest Fest (OR) 
10. Sonoma County Harvest Fair (CA)
    
    

A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.

These are all some really fun and interesting festivals.

USA Today's email that notified us of the winning results said:

Since this nomination was carefully made by an expert panel, and the public voted for this honor, you have earned some serious bragging rights!

Thank you very much. Yes, we might just make mention of this win.

Thanks again to everyone. There are now only 23 days until the 11th VTPC on Sunday, September 29th, at Stoweflake Mountain Resort. See you all there!

VTPC - Best Fall Festival

Currently the Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival is ranked #1 in the USA Today Best Fall Festival Contest. Way to go Vermont!!

The contest runs until noon on August 26. We hope that you continue to support us in this vote. Thank you.

** USA Today  Best Fall Festival Contest **

------

** Reminder**
There are only 51 days until the 11th Annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival on Sunday, September 29th.

Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival - A Best Fall Festival

We have some good news to pass along. A panel of experts has nominated the Vermont Pumpkin' Chuckin' Festival for the 10 Best Fall Festival Category.

Thank you very much USA Today. We are very proud to be included in this list of 20 great Fall Festival nominees. We'll keep our fingers crossed, our trebuchets locked and loaded, and our pumpkins in the sling.

Here below is the link were you can vote in the contest and check-out all the 20 nominees:

If all of Vermont got behind us we might have a chance in this contest. Go Green Mountain State!

Update: Apparently you can vote every day in this contest. Here's the note that pops up after you vote:  "You can cast a vote in each category every day."

The contest will close at noon Aug. 26. The winners will be revealed Sept. 6th.

** USA Today 10 Best Fall Festivals **

--------------------------

From: Schrandt, Lydia

Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2019 5:32 PM

To: Dave Jordan 

Subject: Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival photo request

NOT for immediate release. Under embargo until MONDAY, JULY 29 at noon ET.

Congratulations!

A panel of experts and 10Best editors have chosen the Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival as a nominee for our 2019 10Best Readers' Choice travel awards for the Best Fall Festival category. The contest launches on Monday, July 29, and we wanted to give you a heads-up.

Read more about the contest here and look over the contest rules here.

What you can do before the contest launches:

• Send me a high-res, horizontal image you'd like to accompany your blurb by Sunday, July 28 (these should be images that you own rights to that Gannett and its affiliates, licensees, and content partners can use)
• Prepare a press release announcing your nomination
• Think about how to share your nomination on social media, and remember to tag @10Best

Here's what you can expect from us during and after the contest:

• Contest posted on Facebook and Twitter, with all nominees tagged in each
• Contest categories promoted in a newsletter to our subscribers
• Winners tagged on Facebook and Twitter
• An Instagram post tagging the winner
• A pin on Pinterest linking back to the top 10 winners
• Articles promoting voting and the top 10 winners on 10Best.com with promotion on USA TODAY Travel and local Gannett media outlets
• Possible expanded content covering the first place finisher (we work with winners on a case by case basis to produce articles, videos, slideshows, etc.)

Keep an eye out for an official contest announcement next week, and in the mean time, don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Best,
Lydia Schrandt
Contractor, Sr. Photo Editor/Readers' Choice Production Manager, 10Best

List of 2019 Pumpkin Chuckin' Events

Last updated: September 14, 2019

Courtesy of The Hurl website and checked with some other sources here's a list of Fall Pumpkin Chuckin' Festivals.

The big news is that the World Championships of Punkin Chuckin is moving from Delaware to Rantoul, Illlinois, November 1-3.

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September 2019

September 21-22
Punkin Chunkin Colorado
Location : Aurora, CO
Website : https://www.auroragov.org/things_to_do/events/punkin_chunkin_colorado

September 28
Burlington Pumpkin Pitch
Location : Burlington, WA
Website : https://www.burlington-chamber.com/events/

September 29
Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin' Festival
Location : Stoweflake Resort, Stowe, VT
Website : http://vtpumpkinchuckin.blogspot.com/

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October 2019

October 12
Howard County Punkin Chunkin Fall Festival
Location : Howard, PA
Website : http://www.howardfire.com/punkin--chunkin--fall-festival.html

October 18
Last Fling Pumpkin Sling
Location : Picatinny Arsenal, NJ
Website : http://www.pumpkinsling.com/index.html (It should be noted that this looks to be a schools-only competition)

October 19
1000 Islands Punkin Chunkin
Location : Clayton, NY
Website : http://www.1000islands-clayton.com/punkinchunkinclayton/

October 19
La Jara Smash Fest
Location : La Jara, CO
Website : https://www.facebook.com/La-Jara-Smash-Fest-227614161319293/

October 19-20
Great Pumpkin Fest
Location : Union Grove, WI

Website : https://www.uniongrovechamber.org/great-pumpkin-chuckin-fest

(their website has not updated with this year's dates yet, still looks like its on)

October 19-20
Clay County Punkin Chunkin
Brasstown, NC
Website: https://www.claychambernc.com/alpha-pages/punkin-chunkin-2018/

October 25 (??, yes, currently says on Friday)
Pumpkin Chuck Dayton
Location : Riverside, OH (National Museum of the USAF)
Website : https://www.facebook.com/PumpkinChuckDayton/

October 26
Route 66 Punkin Chunkin
Location : Vinita, OK
Website : https://vinitaareachamberofcommerce.wildapricot.org/event-2892515
(site has not yet been updated with the 2019 date)

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November 2019

November 1-3
World Championships of Punkin Chunkin
Location : Rantoul, IL
Website : https://www.punkinchunkin.com/

November 2
Pumpkin Blast
Location : Meridianville, AL
Website : http://www.pumpkinblast.com/

November 2
Discovery Cube Pumpkin Launch
Location : Fullerton, CA (Cal State Fullerton campus)

Website : https://oc.discoverycube.org/event/pumpkinlaunch/ - 

(site not updated yet, but they have confirmed to hurlingforum)