The Great Pumpkin Showdown

How Colorado’s State Record Was Broken 4 Times in 2024

The 2024 giant pumpkin weigh-off season will go down in history as one of the most thrilling, white-knuckle rivalries Colorado has ever seen. In a spectacular back-and-forth battle, the state record was shattered an astonishing four times as growers Brad Bledsoe and Chad New went head-to-head.

 

The 2024 Record Progression

• The Baseline: Chad New held the reigning Colorado state record at 1,783.00 lbs.

• The First Strike: Brad Bledsoe kicked off the chaos by traveling to a California weigh-off, officially putting Colorado on the national map and claiming the state record with a massive 1,955.00 lbs pumpkin.

• The Retaliation: Just one week later, Chad New answered back on home turf. At the first local Colorado weigh-off of the year, Chad reclaimed his crown with a 1,976.50 lbs beast.

• The Counter-Attack: Not to be outdone, Brad Bledsoe struck back the very next week, crossing the historic two-ton threshold and snatching the record away yet again with a 2,083.00 lbs entry.

• The Finale: To seal his legendary season, Brad brought a mammoth 2,190.00 lbs pumpkin to the final scales. In a heart-stopping finish, Brad's giant beat out a heavy-hitting pumpkin brought from Utah by grower Ralph Laub by just a single pound—securing both first place and an unforgettable state record.

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Congratulations to both Brad and Chad for putting on an absolute masterclass in giant pumpkin growing and rewriting the Colorado record books!