Washington Watermelon Weigh Off Attracts Giant Melons

The Old Washington Farmers Market, the Hope/Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce, and the World Pumpkin Commonwealth held the 4th annual Watermelon Weigh-Off in Washington on Saturday August 30th. There were eight melons entered, the biggest field ever. Mike Daniel of Arkadelphia took $200 and third place with at 121.9 pound melon. Lloyd Bright took 2nd place with a 165.5 pound melon. This melon was unusual in that it was a Black Diamond hybrid. The dark green melons were the melons of choice back in 1917 when Hope druggist John S. Gibson held the first watermelon growing competition in Hempstead County. Bright won $300. The top prize went to Barbara Bright Jones of Bossier City, Louisiana. Jones melon, grown in Hempstead County, weighed in at 181.4 pound. Jones won $500. Despite the threat of wet weather a good crowd turned out to see the weigh off. Many people enjoyed shopping for produce and hand-crafted craft items. The organizers want to thank Michelli Scales of Bossier City, Louisiana for providing the electronic scales for the weigh off. Special thanks also to Dr. Vic Ford, Dr. John Barry, and Clay Wingfield of the Univeristy of Arkansas Southwest Research and Extension Center for measuring and weighing the melons. Josh Williams of Washington is chairman of the even