980 lbs. pumpkin dressed like turkey

WOODBURN, Ind. (WANE) - An eastern Allen County man is showing off his growing skills. He and his family have raised several giant pumpkins and one of them is on display, dressed up like a turkey.

Kelly Klinker lives right along the Indiana and Ohio border. Since 2002 he has competed with his friends to grow giant pumpkins. This year, his largest one weighs in at 980 lbs. Monday, Klinker showed it to NewsChannel 15. The gargantuan pumpkin sits about four feet tall.

Just down Railroad Street is another one of Klinker’s gigantic pumpkins. Sitting across from a church, the pumpkin is painted red and looks like Bob the Tomato, the popular Veggie Tales character. That pumpkin weighs 593 lbs.

Klinker sells these giant pumpkins for a dollar a pound. He also enters them into competitions and donates them to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo for the annual Great Zoo Halloween.

Klinker says he will soon start sharing his hobby with those who want to learn. He will teach “How to Grow Giant Pumpkins” through IPFW’s Continuing Studies program. His class starts April 2010.