It took him seven years, but Addison resident Steve Ardelean finally reclaimed the mantle of victory.
With an orange monster weighing 371 pounds, Ardelean won the 8th annual Big Pumpkin Weigh-off Friday at Louie’s Food & Spirits in Lakeville.
‘It feels good,? he said. ‘I had a pretty strong pumpkin. I actually thought it was going to be a little heavier than what it was. It was fairly large.?
Ardelean won the very first weigh-off in 2001 when it was just a friendly little competition between him and Zivko ‘Zeeke? Vasovski, co-owner of Louie’s Food & Spirits.
Others have been entering since 2004.
Although this summer’s heavy rains led to flooded fields that hurt many farmers? pumpkin crops, Ardelean said all the extra moisture only benefited his garden.
‘All the rain really helped me a lot,? he said. ‘My garden’s pretty high up, so (my pumpkin) never sat in any water. All the excess just drained off.?
Coming in second at this year’s weigh-off was Joe Rossel with his 308-pounder. The other contestants were Steve Fogler (235), Angie Crabtree (231), Vasovski (208) and Heide Nash (141).