Alaska, our 49th state and nicknamed “The Last Frontier,” was purchased from the Russian Empire on March 30, 1867. The largest state in area, it eagerly honors large vegetables shown at the Alaska State Fair.
Since Alaska has extended periods of continual light in sunny summer months with more than 19 hours of sunlight in June, the 100 day growing season is short but intense. Plants and vegetables can grow to mammoth sizes, if cultivated properly. And of course winter is just the opposite, with only five hours of daylight in December.
The Alaska State Fair began in 1936 and celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2011. The giant cabbage contest was started in 1941. A prize of $25 was awarded to Max Sherrod for his 23 pounder. But that was only the beginning!
Just how large was the winning cabbage in 2011? Take a guess…40 pounds? 50 pounds? 75 pounds? The answer is a staggering 126.4 pound cabbage entered by Steve Hubacek of Wasilla, Alaska.
J.D. Megchelsen won the blue ribbon for the heaviest pumpkin in 2011. Not only a huge veggie to transport, it had to be in perfect shape to win. And there are so many things that can go wrong. Stem splits, or cracks in the rib valleys, or holes in the walls will get a pumpkin grower disqualified. Megchelsen managed to succeed and his giant pumpkin weighed in at 1,287 pounds..
A few years ago I was fortunate enough to actually attend this State Fair held in Palmer, Alaska. Located about forty miles north of Anchorage, the most amazing display to me was the sunflower plants, standing 10-14 feet tall. The top of the plants touched the ceiling and then bent over in an arc, looking downward.
Throughout its history, other world records set at the Alaska State Fair include:
64.8 pound cantaloupe
42.75 pound beet
39.2 pound turnip
18.985 pound carrot
These whopper vegetables look huge in pictures, but it’s really impressive to actually see these giants. They are not only grown, but coddled, wrapped in blankets, babied and given lots of TLC. I hope you can see for yourself!
Personal experience
http://www.chron.com/news/article/Alaska-record-winner-enjoys-art-of-pumpkin-growing-2154121.php
http://www.alaskastatefair.org/site/about-us/history