Wisconsin Growers are Setting Records with Giant Pumpkins

You may be seeing pumpkins for sale all across the state right now. But did you know Wisconsin growers are setting records with those that are far from ordinary. In fact, a few are giants!

Mike Schmit knows all about it. The Markesan man is the treasurer of the Wisconsin Giant Pumpkin Growers (WGPG). It’s an organization dedicated to teaching and celebrating the art of growing this special type of squash — often weighing more than a small car.

“We’re really like a social club,” Schmit says. “We all enjoy the hobby of growing giant pumpkins and helping others learn how to do it, too.”

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Listen to an interview about giant pumpkins with Mike Schmit here:

Wisconsin’s biggest pumpkin tipped the scale at 2,491 pounds this year, just shy of the state record of 2,551, set in 2024 by Jim Ford from Eldorado in Fond du Lac County. Those with WGPG track this data and indicate Wisconsin currently has the most pumpkins weighing more than 2,000 pounds than any other state. And growing one of these massive beauties takes more than good soil and sunshine. It’s a full-time commitment.

“At peak time, I can spend six to seven hours a week on a single pumpkin,” Schmit explains. “You check on it morning and night. It’s like taking care of a baby.”

Schmit says pumpkins can gain as much as 50 to 60 pounds a day during peak growth. 

“You can almost watch them grow,” he shares. “I’ve got mine on a scale, and you can literally see the numbers move.”

His own pumpkin-growing journey began with curiosity — and a challenge. 

“I just wanted to see if I could do it,” he says. “My first big one was 2,106 pounds. I ended up being the international rookie of the year.”

Now growing these giants has become both a passion and a way to make people smile. Schmit finds whether he puts one on the front porch, carves it into a masterpiece, or hauls a giant gourd to the grocery store on a trailer, his pumpkins always turn heads.

“Everybody loves them — especially kids,” he says. “They light up when they see a big orange pumpkin. That’s what makes it worth it.”

And for anyone who thinks growing a giant pumpkin is out of reach, Schmit insists it’s not. 

“You don’t need to be competitive to enjoy it,” he explains. “Even a few hundred pounds feels giant when it’s your own.”

Schmit hopes people keep an eye out for these big orange wonders throughout the fall. He considers it a great reminder of what can grow with a little care, a lot of patience, and some true Wisconsin spirit.

NOTE: This story first aired as part of the NEWisco Weekend show. Listen to the entire issue featuring tricks and treats here.

Watch Mike Schmit carve a giant pumpkin for Halloween here: