Lloyd Bright takes top watermelon weigh-off prize

By Josh Williams/additional photos by Paul Oller, 09/4/22 4:19 PM

WASHINGTON – On Saturday, September 3, the Old Washington Farmer’s Market hosted an official watermelon weigh-off site for the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth in Washington, Arkansas. The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth provides official venues for growers to weigh several varieties of fruit and vegetables, including watermelons, across the country.

The winners were: 1st place – Lloyd Bright of Arkadelphia, Arkansas with 205.5 pounds and 2nd place – Barbara Bright Jones of Bossier City, Louisiana with 198.6 pounds. One watermelon was entered for “Exhibition Only” category by Lloyd Bright of Arkadelphia, Arkansas weighing 193.8 pounds. First place won $500 and Second Place won $300.

The event was sponsored by: Lagrone Williams Hardware of Hope, Arkansas; Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express & Best Western of Hope, Arkansas;  and City of Washington Tourism.

The Old Washington Farmers Market Watermelon Weighoff take places every year on the Saturday before Labor Day. It has been the weigh-in site for the current Arkansas and Kansas state records for watermelon.  The current world record for watermelon is held by Chris Kent of Sevierville, Tennessee at 350.5 pounds.