Charlie Bernstrom from Lancaster, Minnesota is now a five time Great Pumpkin Commonwealth weigh-off winner at the Roland Pumpkin Fair. For the second consecutive year he had the largest entry at Saturday's event, tipping the scales at 1,715.5 pounds. "It's always so much work to get to the scale, and it's very rewarding," he shared shortly after the win. "We love coming to Roland, and it's one of the best weigh-offs in the world. We're lucky to have it close to us and it's a ton of fun." Bernstrom set a new Roland Pumpkin Fair record in 2024 with an absolute giant that weighed 2,004 pounds. He had estimated this year's entry would be around 1,800 pounds, and he wasn't that far enough once it hit the scale. "The one last year didn't look that much bigger," he said. "They can just be more dense, and you never know. I don't pre-weigh them, so I have no clue. The surprise is kind of actually fun, not knowing what it is until it's on there," Tale of two growing seasons Bernstrom said it was really dry until about July 4th, and then it became really wet. "We lost two of them this year that got splits in them, so it just shows you how hard it is to get one to the scale, and all that work that goes into it," he noted. Now this wasn't just any pumpkin, oh no. It was Kevin the Pumpkin... as in Kevin McCallister from the movie Home Alone. "Harper, our three-year-old, watches Home Alone almost every day, so she named it Kevin," said Bernstrom with a smile. "Each year, each girl gets to name a pumpkin, and that's what Harper named hers." The family aspect of growing these giants is a big part of the growing season. "They go down there and they help weed," he started. "They know what burn weed is, so they know what weeds not to touch. They're careful with the pumpkins, and each week we take a picture, they sit on their pumpkins. I drive school bus, so then Briar (his oldest daughter) will water them in the morning. They all kind of help out a little bit." Advice for other giant growers This marks the fifth time Bernstrom has taken first place at the Roland Pumpkin Fair, also winning in 2024, 2018, 2017 and 2014. So what's the secret to that success? "Each pumpkin is about 900 square feet, and it's about 100 gallons of water a day," he explained. "We live by the river, so that helps. I just pump it out of the river. And then fertilizer and making sure bugs don't get it and disease and just lots of time. Just ask other growers questions, I'll help anybody. Everybody will be very willing to help." Bernstrom's winner is now destined for the annual pumpkin drop he helps organize to support the Kittson Country Literacy Council which provides free books to newborns to five year olds. 2020 and 2019 winner Cornie Banman from the R.M. of Stanley came in second with a pumpkin weighing 1,522.5 pounds, with Helen Banman, also from the R.M. of Stanley, rounding out the top three at 1,427 pounds. Cornie did win the watermelon category with one that required two people to move it to the scale, coming in at 94.5 pounds. Julie Friesen from Ninette was tops in the tomato category with an entry weighing 2.82 pounds.