LADY CARDS stack up the wins this season The official newspaper of Cavalier County Theborderlandpress.com
Friday, October 4, 2024
Volume 3, Number 39
First-time grower breaks all time record
The year’s Giant Pumpkin Contest broke records by leaps and pounds at the 20th Annual Pumpkinfest in Walhalla
By Hilary Nowatzki
In a surprising turn of events, a firsttime pumpkin grower, Roy Line, from Grafton not only won the Giant Pumpkin Contest at Walhalla’s 20th annual Pumpkinfest extravaganza with his 1771-pound gourd, but broke an all time record for the event with this weight. The previous record of 1,577 pounds was set by Kent Carrier of Walhalla in 2019. Carrier, who won four Giant Pumpkin Contests consecutively from 2017-2020, now sits at third on the overall record. Brian Bassett of Fischer, N.D., now sits at the overall second place record weight with 1,762 pounds. "This pumpkin weighs 1,771 pounds, and by the measurements, it measured 19 feet 9 inches," Line proudly shared. He was closely followed by Bassett, who was only 10 pounds shy of beating Line, landing at 1,762 pounds. Ron Beneda took third with his giant pumpkin weighing in at 1,119 pounds. Line's success is even more remarkable considering this was his inaugural year growing pumpkins. When asked what inspired him to take up the hobby, it was a simple, wholesome response. "I wanted to grow a pumpkin for my granddaughter," he explained. "I saw Ron Beneda in Park River growing giant pumpkins, and that's what got me interested in trying it myself." Line’s 7-year-old granddaughter, who lives in Minnesota, was so excited to
Roy Line stands with his record breaking giant pumpkin. Photo by Larry Stokke.
find out her grandpa was growing a type of pumpkin she had only seen in shows, books, or on TV. "She's absolutely tickled pink about it," he shared with a smile. When first committing to this endeavor, Line acknowledged the massive amount of knowledge that goes into growing such beasts. He did plenty of research and talked to other growers about tips and tricks. He couldn’t let his granddaughter down. Line elaborated on the work put into growing his giant pumpkin. "Burying the vines, cutting off the secondary vines, and making sure
the soil has the right pH and nutrients - that's so important for growing a massive pumpkin," he explained. "At one point, this one was putting on 45 pounds a day!" One giant pumpkin he was growing ended up having a split in the vine. Undeterred, the amateur grower conducted “surgery” by sewing the vine back together with needle and thread, a technique he had learned from the advice of other growers. "It just kept cracking, so I did surgery on it to try to stop it, but the fruit flies got to it, and it started leaking," he said.
Brian Bassett with his family pose in front of his 1,762 pound pumpkin. Photo by Larry Stokke.
Despite the setbacks, the hard work paid off, as Line's record-breaking pumpkin surpassed another one he had been growing. "The other one was doing just as much, and then this one just took off and passed it," he said. Rumors were heard leading up to the festivities of a pumpkin to beat all pumpkins being grown this year. That was Line’s giant which won the contest. Although 1,771 pounds is still massive, based on measurements and calculations taken before the pumpkin was weighed, Line was estimating a 1,900-pounder, which would have been a record breaker for the Gi-
ant Pumpkin Contest. However, Line said the pumpkin weighed light instead of heavy, meaning it was more hollow in the middle than expected. Regardless, the rookie still took home first and one special present for his beloved granddaughter. Looking ahead, Line is eager to continue his pumpkin growing journey.
"I'll be growing more next year," he said. "I've learned so much, and I can't wait to see what I can do with that knowledge."
NEW FUNDING BOOSTS RESEARCH CAPABILITIES
Allocated funds from last legislative being used to construct much needed upgrades for LREC By Hilary Nowatzki
The North Dakota State University Research Extension Center in Langdon has received a major funding boost from the state legislature, paving the way for significant upgrades to its facilities and equipment. Year before last, Randy Mehlhoff, director of LREC, made plenty of drives up to Bismarck in a not so friendly winter to advocate and represent the significance of agricultural research in the northeast region of the state. His efforts were worth the many nervous drives, as LREC was granted $1.225 million in new funding.
The outside frame of the entrance to the new greenhouse being put up on Oct. 1. Photo by Hilary Nowatzki.
The product of these funds can now be seen when visiting the center, as a much-needed equipment storage shed has been built, and the concrete foundation has been laid for a new state-of-the-art greenhouse.
“As a result of the last legislative session, we received funding for two big capital projects,” explained Mehlhoff. “One is an equipment storage facility that was $475,000, and we also received $750,000 for a greenhouse addition on the agronomy lab.” The new greenhouse will primarily be utilized by Dr. Chapara, the center’s plant pathologist, who will now be able to conduct a variety of yearround research projects. “He can continue projects all winter long in there,” said Mehlhoff. “And then the other big thing for the greenhouse is we’re going to have a spray chamber in there.” This spray chamber will play a crucial role in addressing the region’s per-
sistent weed resistance issues. “Northeast N.D. has the worst incidences of resistant weeds,” Mehlhoff noted. “So, with the greenhouse, we’ll be able to test these weeds that are resistant to find out what chemicals will kill them, so we’ll be able to address the resistant weed situation better.” The equipment storage shed is equally important. LREC had nowhere to store their machinery beforehand, so it will provide much-needed protection for the center’s extensive collection of specialized machinery. “A lot of the equipment we have out here is small plot machinery, and cont’d. on page A3
PCMH Foundation hosts Burgers and Bingo to support local EMS services By Rebecca Davis
Pembina County Memorial Hospital Foundation is currently holding several of its annual Burgers and Bingo fundraisers in support of local emergency medical services (EMS), an initiative that has grown in importance due to the decreased state funding for rural ambulance services. The event, which takes place across several communities in the county including Cavalier and Mountain, aims to raise awareness of the critical need for EMS services in rural areas. According to Gwen Zorn, the interim Foundation director, rural EMS services like those in Pembina County are nonprofit organizations that rely heavily on community support through fundraisers, grants, and donations to maintain essential services. Zorn emphasized that recent changes in the state legislature have decreased the financial support available to these services, making community involve-
ment more crucial than ever. This year’s fundraiser has been particularly successful, surpassing the initial goal of raising $5,000. "We've raised over $7,000 in sponsorships alone," Zorn said, adding that this allows the Foundation to cover the cost of prizes and food for the event with all remaining funds directly benefiting local EMS agencies. The fundraiser includes a series of bingo games, where community members play for a chance to win cash prizes and enjoy a burger meal by free-will donation. The Cavalier event saw over 80 attendees and raised $1,340 from bingo cards alone, along with nearly $2,000 in donations, according to Peyton Letexier, a volunteer for the event and a hospital employee. “It’s a great way for the community to come together, have some fun, and
also support a vital service,” Letexier said. Those who may not want to stay for bingo are welcome to come grab a burger and either have fellowship with community members or take it to-go. The importance of these services cannot be understated in rural areas, where EMS response times can be critical. "If we didn’t have local ambulance services, people might have to wait for an ambulance from Grand Forks, Grafton, or Langdon. That kind of delay in an emergency could mean the difference between life and death," Letexier explained. Additionally, the event included fun activities for children, such as a beanbag toss game, and one lucky participant took home a prize donated by
the Pembina County Fair, adding an extra element of excitement to the afternoon. While the fundraiser has been a success, this year marks the last time that the PCMH Foundation will be allowed to organize the bingo events due to changes in the North Dakota Century Code governing charitable gaming. Starting next year, each EMS service will be responsible for its own fundraising efforts, a transition that has raised concerns about the capacity of volunteer-based services to manage such events. Despite these challenges, the community continues to show strong support for its local EMS. Zorn expressed gratitude for everyone who contributed, stating, “Without a rural critical access hospital, we cannot have an ambulance service. Supporting PCMH and our local
EMS is essential for ensuring these life-saving services remain available.” For those who may not be able to attend but still want to contribute, donations to local ambulance services can be made directly to the respective departments throughout the year. Community members are encouraged to attend whichever location fits their schedule best, as money raised from the event is split six ways between the Foundation and the quick response agencies in Cavalier, Mountain, Pembina, Walhalla and Drayton. Bingo cards are $20 for 10 games, and daubers are available for purchase. Cash and checks are accepted. The next Burgers and Bingo event will be held in Pembina, N.D., with more opportunities for community members to join in the fun while supporting a great cause.