01
Receive the packet
Selected 4-H and FFA growers receive seed packets of elite Atlantic Giant / Big Max crosses, bred with Colorado’s intense sun and hail in mind.
A quiet invitation for young growers
The Speakeasy Giant Pumpkin Contest
Deep within our 25-acre historic Bent County farm, an underground network of young growers is getting ready to go big. Growers are hand-selected through 4-H and FFA chapters across southeastern Colorado, then handed a vintage-style seed envelope stamped with a mysterious QR code.
A secret worth growing.
Our “speakeasy” is a storybook frame, not a bar: family-friendly, no alcohol, just a little hush around a very good seed.
Find your chapter01 · The field notes
How it works
02
Grow the evidence
Keep a close eye on soil, leaves, vine length, weather, and the small decisions that help a giant pumpkin find its feet.
03
Bring the story to the weigh-off
At the Holiday Harvest Festival, growers bring their pumpkins, notebooks, and hard-earned guesses to the weigh-off. The biggest fruit matters; the growing story matters too.
02 · Read before you grow
Contest Rules
Clear rules keep the mystery fun and the playing field friendly. Ask your chapter leader if a detail needs a closer look.
- 01Eligibility is through 4-H or FFA membership in southeastern Colorado.
- 02One entry per grower, so choose your best pumpkin and give it your full attention.
- 03Seeds must come from the farm’s official contest packets.
- 04Growers are expected to care for their vines and join weekly check-ins with their chapter or farm mentor.
- 05Submit your entry at the Holiday Harvest Festival weigh-off in October.
03 · Your way in
Registration
4-H and FFA chapter leaders can gather interested students and contact the farm to request a seed-packet allotment. Students may also ask their leader to put their name on the chapter list. We’ll share packet details, check-in dates, and the festival weigh-off plan directly with the chapter.
04 · Mark the season
Timeline
Spring
Seed distribution at 4-H and FFA meetings, county fairs, and livestock shows.
Spring / Summer
Weekly growth check-ins and mentorship from farm staff.
October
Harvest weigh-off during the Holiday Harvest Festival.
Members only
The envelope has another side.
Seed-packet QR codes unlock a hidden member portal with growth journals, farm check-ins, vine-care lessons, and a few cartoons from the Holiday Harvest kids.
Use the secret doorWhat your brain gets to practice
STEM skills, with dirt under them.
Biology shows up in every leaf. Measurement turns a hunch into a record. Data tracking helps a young grower spot patterns. Soil pH opens a chemistry lesson, and vine pruning becomes a puzzle in energy, structure, and care.