A pumpkin weighing about 1.18 tonnes sets a Topsfield Fair record

Woody Lancaster’s pumpkin weighed 2,598 pounds, approximately 1,178.4 kilograms, at the Topsfield Fair weigh-off in the United States.

This is a record for that fair, not a claim to the highest weight across every pumpkin competition worldwide.

Where was the result checked?

We checked the current 2026 results on the fair’s official press page. Lancaster placed first in the October 2 weigh-off. Independent coverage also confirms the winning weight and fair record. Cached results from an earlier competition must be distinguished from the current result, since an event may update the same page address each year.

How was 1.18 tonnes calculated?

One pound equals 0.45359237 kilograms, so the official 2,598-pound result converts to about 1,178.4 kilograms, or 1.18 tonnes. This is a unit conversion, not a second scale measurement. It describes the mass of one pumpkin, not a combined harvest or a result based on circumference or dimensions.

Why do ranking and category matter?

The official results list Larry and Shawna Masters second at 2,220 pounds and Joe Jutras third at 2,197 pounds. The winning pumpkin is compared within this competition. A separate youth category and events elsewhere have their own results and rules. Turning a remarkable local event result into a world-record claim requires separate official verification.

What does a giant pumpkin establish?

The fair describes the weigh-off’s long history on its official site. A weight competition demonstrates one outcome of cultivation, but it is not a test of taste, nutrition or typical farm productivity. One winning entry also cannot show that anyone can grow the same size. Next checks are the fair’s final results and other official weigh-offs. World-record status should be checked separately with the organization responsible for that record.

Primary source and independent checks

Primary source or announcement: Topsfield Fair

Institutional or data check: Topsfield Fair

Additional primary source or independent check: The Boston Globe

Read in other languages

한국어 · English · Español · 日本語 · Tiếng Việt