Griffith man wins State Fair pumpkin contest — again
AP August 11, 2012 4:12PM
Updated: September 13, 2012 6:26AM
INDIANAPOLIS — A Northwest Indiana man claimed first place in the Indiana State Fair’s annual Giant Pumpkin Contest with a 1,293-pound pumpkin.
The winning entry by Griffith resident John Barenie outweighed the runner-up pumpkin entered by a Kentucky man by 208 pounds. But it fell 15 pounds short of the state record set last year by another pumpkin that also earned Barenie the top pumpkin honors.
After his pumpkin was declared the winner Saturday, Barenie received a $1,000 check and a trophy from the Indiana Pumpkin Growers Association.
Barenie is the only Indiana resident ever to win the State Fair’s Giant Pumpkin contest. He has won the title three times, having also won the inaugural contest in 2002.
