Great pumpkins and giant bear spray fill Saturday event
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<p>This woman got off the couch. She read the Community Calendar and found out about the pimpkin weigh-in and bear spray exhibition at Murdoch's Saturday. Most of those who didn't read the calendar, stayed on their couches and missed the 651-pound winner and a charging bear.</p>
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POLSON – Emmet May wandered around the Murdock’s parking lot with a twinkle in his eye. This year, May, of Polson, had multiple pumpkins on display as well as a few giant tomatoes he grew in his garden.
May’s love for the pumpkin-growing was evident. The President of the Big Sky Pumpkin Growers holds the Montana state record of the largest pumpkins grown in 2012 with a 1,030-pound pumpkin, and in 2011 with a 893-pounder.
A family friend walked up to May at the Oct. 4 annual Pumpkin Weigh.
“It takes a lot of love,” she said. And May smiled.
“I nurture them, take care of them. It does take a lot of love,” May said.
But there is science involved too.
“The key is soil balance,” May said.
Similar to regular car maintenance, May said preparing the soil for growing season is key. And May made it his business to educate himself on every growing component.
Behind May, a man representing a bear spray company held the enemy at bay.
Tim Lynch ran a bear attack booth, complete with a grizzly bear darting out from behind a curtain at a high-rate of speed, mimicking the average speed a hungry, attacking bear. Behind the rails and in between two fake trees, Pumpkin Weigh in attendees got the chance to spray the bear and, according to the bear spray representative, will thwart a bear attack and save a life.
Bob Burke stood on the other side of the fairway next to a Murdock’s booth. Burke, who is Murdock’s manager, told visitors to make sure and see the live yaks at the other end of the fairway.
Murdock’s became involved in the Pumpkin Weigh in after Burke realized the Murdock’s parking lot was the perfect location to hold the fall morning event.
Visitors like Shannon Little, Moriah Lundeen and Sierra, 10 of Polson wandered around to experience the morning.
Little was raised in eastern Tennessee and is an avid hunter.
“I have bear spray but I don’t think I’m always prepared to use it,” Little said after taking the bear spray challenge. “It’s good to be prepared. You never know when you need to use it.”
When all the pumpkins on display were officially weighed in, one of May’s entries won Montana’s biggest pumpkin for 2014. It was 651 pounds.
“It was a tough year for growing,” May said. But now that it’s done, a few of May’s pumpkins are on display at Murdocks and a few more made it home with a weigh-in supporter for other uses.