Pumpkin Grower has Giant Goals

The Agronomy team at Country Visions in Malone had a chance to play a small part in the story of a giant pumpkin that was grown this year. It was a fun experience learning about their pumpkin operation and pumpkins in general.

2383 is just another number to the average person, but to Derek Sippel of St. Cloud, Wisconsin the number 2383 is a personal milestone. The number 2383 is the official weight of a gigantic pumpkin that he nurtured this year on his farm. Currently, it is the 3rd heaviest pumpkin in the state of Wisconsin and the 12^th heaviest pumpkin in the world for the 2025 growing season. The official weight of this monster was recorded at the 1^st annual Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off event at the Fondy Fall Tober Fest at Lakeside Park in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin on Saturday, October 11^th.  

This gigantic pumpkin was grown at Airy Point Farms in the rolling, fertile hills of the Holyland in eastern Fond du Lac County near the community of St. Cloud. Airy Point Farms is a beautiful and inviting farm nestled between Plymouth and Fond du Lac one mile north of Hwy 23 and is owned and operated by Derek and Nicole Sippel and family. This farm does a wonderful job telling the story of agriculture to its clients with the products it produces on the farm such as pumpkins, flowers, and beef. Derek, Nicole, and family all had a role in raising and nurturing this pumpkin at Airy Point Farms for about 6 months this year. This pumpkin almost became like another child for the family as it required much attention to detail daily.

A pumpkin of this magnitude does not happen by accident. It takes a year or more in advanced planning to make a giant, record breaking pumpkin a reality. Planning for next year’s giant pumpkin is already in the works. The 2026 field has been selected, and cover crops have been planted. It takes the right balance of genetics, fertilizer, crop protection products, drainage, sunlight, temperature, moisture, and a bit of tough love to make the ultimate dreams of Halloween come true.

Derek’s passion for raising giant pumpkins began in 2014 as he made connections with growers in the giant pumpkin world. These mentors were instrumental in guiding and encouraging him along the way. Derek has made great strides in developing techniques to grow massive pumpkins. In 2014, the first year he tried his hand at cultivating giant pumpkins he grew the 307^th largest pumpkin in the world at 1225 pounds. Two years later in 2016, he crossed the coveted 2000^th pound threshold. (The first time that a Wisconsinite grew a 2000-pound pumpkin on Wisconsin soil for a sanctioned pumpkin weighing contest was in 2015.) Prior to this year, Derek’s personal best was a 2147-pound pumpkin that was officially weighed at Mishicot in 2022. This year’s pumpkin weight of 2383 is nearly double the weight of his first pumpkin grown in 2014 for the pumpkin event in Cedarburg.

Derek is active in the Wisconsin Giant Pumpkin Growers, which is a social organization that is committed to teaching and sharing information regarding growing giant fruits and vegetables in Wisconsin. This organization provides an avenue for sharing information to other growers and the public with educational seminars, growing events, and weighing events across the state of Wisconsin.
 
10 Statistics about the Airy Point Giant Pumpkin

1. Weight: 2383 pounds
2. Circumference: 19.5 feet
3. Maximum daily weight gain: 53 pounds per day
4. Estimated Rind Thickness: 12-14 inches. It will take a chainsaw to carve this pumpkin.
5. Age of pumpkin from pollination to harvest: 125 days. It was born on June 8^th.
6. The pumpkin patch made its home on 1200 square feet of land.
7. Estimated pounds of seed in the pumpkin: 200- 500 pounds
8. 90% of the pumpkin is water. Derek’s pumpkin consists of 260 gallons of water! Having adequate moisture during the growing season is a must.
9. The pumpkin’s network of vines was buried underground to promote the development of an extensive root system for the enhanced uptake of water and nutrients.
10. Spider mites made an unexpected visit to the pumpkin patch in late August. The threat was identified and eliminated thanks to the Agronomy team at Country Visions Coop in Malone. 

The team at Country Visions Coop congratulates Derek, Nicole, and family on achieving such an incredible milestone and wishes them much success as they pursue 2500 pounds and beyond in the years to come!