By BOB JACKSON

By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- On a cold, drizzly Saturday afternoon, Jerry Rose raised his hands in victory as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
Rose, 34, a township road department worker from Huntsburg in Geauga County, was among the participants in Saturday's Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers weigh-off, held at Parks Garden Center in Canfield Township.
His entries smashed the world record for heaviest pumpkin and squashed the world record for heaviest squash, leaving him holding the two most prestigious titles in giant pumpkindom.
His pumpkin tipped the scale at a whopping 1,370 pounds and his squash weighed in at 1,367.
"That's pretty heavy stuff," a beaming Rose said moments after watching Frank Lanterman of Austintown come up short in a bid to take the pumpkin title. "You don't see that very often."
The old world record for pumpkins was 1,337 pounds, set last year in New Hampshire, said club member Dave Stelts of Leetonia. The squash record was 1,064 pounds.
Rose said the primary difference between a squash and pumpkin is the color: A squash must be at least 25 percent green.
Holding his breath
Pumpkin growers came from all over Ohio and Pennsylvania to get their gourds weighed and swap stories and tips during the annual competition. It was one of several weigh-offs Saturday across North America, so no one will know for sure until later today whether Rose's records will stand.
"He might not be the world record holder tomorrow, but he's got it today," said Tim Parks of Salem as a cheering crowd of spectators and fans bowed to Rose in good-natured adoration.
"I'm pretty confident that this will be the new record-holder," Rose said.
The secrets of his success are no secrets at all. Good seeds and plenty of water are a good start. Oh, and manure. Lots and lots of manure.
"And when you think you've used enough, you put on a little more," he said.
Lanterman, who made his first entry into the thousand-pound club this year, was thrilled to break that barrier but disappointed at not growing a pumpkin heavy enough to win the championship. Based on his pumpkin's circumference, he'd estimated its weight at about 1,367 pounds.
"I thought it was going to be heavier than it was. But what the heck," he said, shrugging it off. "It's just a pumpkin."
"You'll get me next year," Rose said, slapping Lanterman on the back.
The scene
The 200 or so spectators who crammed into the makeshift pumpkin patch oohed as pumpkins got heavier and heavier, and clapped when Parks would announce that someone had just set a personal record for pumpkin weight.
As the suspense built toward the big finish, spectators stood up on rows of hay bales for a better view of the heavyweight contenders.
"The best thing about this is that it brings good people together to have fun," Lanterman said.
Stelts said the attraction of growing giant pumpkins is the personal satisfaction that comes from seeing one grow from seed to boulder-type proportions.
"It's just sheer size," he said. "Every year they get bigger and bigger."
And if you're lucky, like Rose, there's worldwide recognition among your peers.
"You've got bragging rights for the next year," Stelts said.
Pumpkin powerhouse
Rose's success Saturday will add to this area's national renown as a giant pumpkin powerhouse. Six members of the Ohio Valley group are mentioned in a new book about how to grow world-class giant pumpkins.
Besides Rose, Parks and Stelts, they include Alan Gibson of Salem, Fred Calai of Canfield and Nic Welty of Smithville.
They were chosen for mention in the book not only for growing giant pumpkins, but also for their contributions to the hobby.
bjackson@vindy.com