Minnesota’s own pumpkin-growing king Travis Gienger won’t be taking a pumpkin to the scale this year at the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California, considered to be the Super Bowl of pumpkins.

The culprit? A barely visible pinhole in the blossom end of his prize pumpkin, which halted its growth and dashed hopes for a chance to four-peat at the West Coast event.

On Aug. 2, Gienger wrote on social media:

“Most people can’t fathom what growers do on a daily basis. It’s a lot, and the time and dedication it takes to do it right is a commitment. Fact of the matter is, if you’re not doing it, someone, somewhere, is. With family, business, teaching, and hobbies, time is getting very limited to a hobby that regardless of how good you can grow, there are no guarantee

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