09/28/2026
The OIFM 2026 Giant Zucchini Contest was wild and unpredictable! Up until the very end, we had three top zukes all within mere OUNCES of each other. 9lbs 4oz, 9lbs 2oz, and 9lbs 0oz. With just 5 minutes left before the entry cutoff, I was happily filling out awards certificates with all the details.
But at 12:28pm, Ryan Rancourt strolled up with a backpack. From of the bag he first brought out the biggest potato I’d ever seen - nearly three whole pounds!
Then he revealed a WHOPPER of a zuke. The shortest, roundest, most insane zuke we’d ever seen! Farmer Bob was shouting from his booth, “That’s not a zuke that’s a WATERMELON!!”
The scales didn’t lie. It weighed in a 10lbs, 2oz!!!!!
From the back of the crowd, a woman cried, “I want mine weighed again!!!” It was the previous 2nd place winner, unceremoniously knocked down to 3rd place with 60 seconds to spare.
I weighed them all again, twice over. There was no doubt - the last-minute entry was the clear winner.
Congratulations to Ryan Rancourt, Laughing Donkey Farm, and Rachel Foster for their prizewinning zukes! And a very special congratulations to the honorary 1st place winner in our kid’s group, Robin! 4lbs, 10oz!!
Thank you to Island Hardware, and for your generous donations for prizes!
Time to plan that garden space for zukes for next year, folks!
