Farmer breaks record for heaviest pumpkin grown in US

— -- An array of gargantuan gourds were presented at a pumpkin weigh-off in northern California on Monday, but only one proved massive enough to take home the top prize.

Joel Holland, a retired firefighter from Sumner, Washington, was crowned the pumpkin king at the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off with his 2,363-pound mega-gourd, organizers announced.

The award-winning pumpkin farmer set a new American record with his prized pumpkin, which is also the second heaviest gourd ever grown in the world.

It was Holland's seventh win at the annual competition. He took home $7 per pound, earning him a grand total of $16,541.