Midwestern farmers grow record-breaking pumpkins over 1,000 pounds for competition, with tech and shared knowledge pushing sizes toward 4,000 pounds.

Midwestern growers like Joe Adkins in Illinois and Travis Gienger in Minnesota are cultivating giant pumpkins weighing over 1,000 pounds, with Gienger holding the 2023 world record at 2,749 pounds. These "Atlantic Giant" pumpkins require daily care, including pruning, spraying, and moisture control, and are grown for competition, not pie. Advances in techniques and online knowledge sharing have fueled rapid growth in record sizes, with experts predicting 4,000-pound pumpkins within a decade. Despite challenges like weather and setbacks, the hobby remains popular, driven by passion, competition, and the thrill of pushing nature’s limits.