WASHINGTON – On Saturday, August 30, 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 – Nick McCaslin of Hawesville, Kentucky with 291.8 pounds; 2nd place – Joseph Miller of Tompkinsville, Kentucky with 236.6 pounds; 3rd place – Garrin Bratcher of Rush Springs, Oklahoma with 228.4 pounds. There was a total of 10 entries with four states represented. First place won $600, Second Place won $400, and Third Place won $300. Nick McCaslin of Kentucky achieved the highest weigh record for the Old Washington Farmers Watermelon Weighoff in its fifteen years.
The winners in the Youth competition were: 1st place – Crew Montgomery of Hornersville, Missouri with 137.9 pounds and 2nd place – Hudson Hardesty of Harned, Kentucky with 116.6 pounds. There was a total of 2 entries for the youth section. First place won $100, and Second Place won $75. Hudson Hardesty also weighed in a large Marrow at 27.9 pounds.
Local watermelon grower, Lloyd Bright was honored at the event by becoming the first inductee into the Giant Watermelon Growers Hall of Fame for his contribution and work in promoting the cultivation of large watermelons.
The event was sponsored by: Hampton Inn & Holiday Inn Express of Hope, Arkansas; Historic Washington State Park; Lagrone Williams Hardware of Hope, Arkansas; Washington Grace Cottage of Washington, Arkansas; and City of Washington Tourism.
The Old Washington Farmers Market Watermelon Weigh off takes place 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. To see current watermelon weights worldwide for 2025 visit
https://www.bigpumpkins.com/WeighoffResultsGPC.aspx?c=W&y=2025.
For more information and photos check out the Old Washington Farmer’s Market on Facebook. Washington, Arkansas is located on Hwy 278 West just eight miles north from Exit 30 at Hope on US Interstate 30.
Photos by Eric Mclaurin
