Pumpkin guts spewed across the Washakie County Fairgrounds with wet, echoing thuds and squeals of joy at Saturday’s 2024 Wyoming State Pumpkin Weigh-Off and Oktoberfest.

After crowning this year’s state giant pumpkin champions, the huge squashes were hoisted 175 feet into the air and dropped, exploding spectacularly.

The drop followed the competitive weigh-in of 18 pumpkins, plus watermelons, giant zucchinis and other squash.

Lovell’s Chad Kurtenbach took the $1,000 grand prize for his 1,254-pound pumpkin, which he accomplished after just three years of practice.