In 1993, the Rhode Island record for the heaviest pumpkin was 816 pounds. At this year’s New England Giant Pumpkin Championship, the winner weighed in at 1,596 pounds.

“They used to say ‘little pumpkins in Little Rhody,’ but not any more,” said New England Giant Pumpkin Growers Association member Ron Wallace at the 16th annual competition, which was held on Saturday, Oct. 10 at Frerich’s Farm in Warren.

Started in 1993 by John Castellucci of Smithfield, the event has continued to grow, almost in proportion to the growth of the giant pumpkins.

Castellucci was on hand to witness the event, at which the Castellucci Cup is presented to grower of the largest pumpkin from the club.

Despite some harsh growing conditions this year, club members continue to grow larger pumpkins, using seeds and fertilizing flowers from former weigh-in winners. Even first-time competitor Art Kaczenski of Erving, Mass., did well, with a giant gourd that weighed in at 1,283 pounds.

The competition, along with 43 giant pumpkin entries, also had entries in true-green gourds, long gourds and giant watermelon.

Among the top five was Johnston’s Norm Gansert, with his 1,287-pound entry.

“I’m ecstatic with it,” said Gansert, whom fellow club members had started calling “Hollywood,” because of his recent television and print media interviews.

Gansert’s giant pumpkin will soon have a new audience, as it will be driven to Washington, D.C., to be part of the White House Halloween party display. His smaller pumpkin is on display on the porch of his Greenville Avenue home.

Fellow Johnston grower Steve Sperry, who had a more disappointing growing season, entered a mammoth gourd weighing 1,074 pounds, for a 14th place ribbon.

Winner of the squash division was Joe Jutras, with a 1,020.5-pound giant.

Mike Rondeau’s 1,158-pound pumpkin, its skin rough and lumpy, won the trophy for “Most Aesthetically Challenged” pumpkin; a 700-pound pumpkin grown by Linda Redonis won “Prettiest Pumpkin.”

In the long-gourd division, first place was awarded to Joe Jutras of North Scituate, with his gourd measuring 127.25 inches; second place to Joe Guisto of Warren and third place to Wes Dwelly of Oakham, Mass.

Club member Joe Jutras had held the world record for two years until recently being “dethroned” by a teacher in Ohio whose giant pumpkin weighed 1,725 pounds. Her pumpkin, however, was grown from one of Jutras’ seeds, another claim to fame.

Seeds from a top-weighing pumpkin such as Jutras’ can sell from $50 to $800 each, though club members often swap seeds.

The results for the top 10 are as follows: First place, Ron Wallace Jr., 1,596 pounds; 2nd, Bruce Whittier, 1,370; 3rd, Charles Leiber, 1,323.5; 4th, Dave Parente, 1,312; 5th, Norm Gansert, 1,287; 6th, Art Kaczenski, 1,283; 7th, Ron Wallace Sr., 1,258; 8th, Scott Palmer, 1,219; 9th, Joe Jutras, 1,209; and 10th, Bob Singleton, 1,172.

For more information on the club, visit its Web site at www.bigpumpkins.com/NEPGA.