World Record Giant Pumpkins – All-Time Timeline
1900 — William Warnock (Canada) — 400 lb
1904 — William Warnock (Canada) — 403 lb
1976 — Edgar Van Wyck (Canada) — 453 lb
1976 — Bob Ford (United States) — 451 lb
1980 — Howard Dill (Canada) — 459 lb
1981 — Howard Dill (Canada) — 493.5 lb
1984 — Norm Gallagher (United States) — 612 lb
1989 — Gordon Thomson (Canada) — 755 lb
1990 — Ed Gancarz (United States) — 816.5 lb
1992 — Joel Holland (United States) — 827 lb
1993 — Donald Black (United States) — 884 lb
1994 — Herman Bax (Canada) — 990 lb
1996 — Nathan & Paula Zehr (United States) — 1,061 lb
1998 — Gary Burke (Canada) — 1,092 lb
1999 — Gerry Checkon (United States) — 1,131 lb
2000 — Dave Stelts (United States) — 1,140 lb
2001 — Geneva Emmons (United States) — 1,262 lb
2002 — Charlie Houghton (United States) — 1,337.6 lb
2003 — Steve Daletas (United States) — 1,385 lb
2004 — Al Eaton (Canada) — 1,446 lb
2005 — Larry Checkon (United States) — 1,469 lb
2006 — Ron Wallace (United States) — 1,502 lb
2007 — Joe Jutras (United States) — 1,689 lb
2009 — Christy Harp (United States) — 1,725 lb
2010 — Chris Stevens (United States) — 1,810.5 lb
2011 — Jim & Kelsey Bryson (Canada) — 1,818.5 lb
2012 — Ron Wallace (United States) — 2,009 lb
2013 — Tim Mathison (United States) — 2,032 lb
2014 — Beni Meier (Switzerland) — 2,323.7 lb
2016 — Mathias Willemijns (Belgium) — 2,624.6 lb
2021 — Stefano Cutrupi (Italy) — 2,703 lb
2023 — Travis Gienger (United States) — 2,749 lb
2025 — Ian & Stuart Paton (United Kingdom) — 2,819.3 lb
The Seed That Traveled the World
A WorldwideGiantGrowers.com Story
In one of the most amazing moments in giant pumpkin history, Mathias Willemijns of Belgium contacted the WorldwideGiantGrowers.com community asking for the legendary 2145 McMullen seed. As a fellow WGG member, Mark Clementz mailed the seed to him all the way in Belgium.
What happened next stunned the world.
From that one seed, Mathias grew an unbelievable 2,624.6-pound giant — a pumpkin so massive it shattered the previous world record by a little over 300 pounds, beating Beni Meier’s world record in dramatic fashion.
The accomplishment earned Mathias the GPC World Champion Grower of the Year. At the annual awards ceremony in Niagara Falls, Mathias personally thanked Mark for sending the seed — a moment that became Mark’s proud claim to fame and a testament to what can happen when growers help growers.
A seed requested.
A seed mailed.
A world record born.
Get your own chance at giant pumpkin greatness —
Get your lucky seeds at WorldwideGiantGrowers.com