Pictured: Louisiana state record holder and contest winner Judy Stansbury
WASHINGTON – Watermelon growers from Arkansas as well as Louisiana and Missouri traveled to the quaint town of Washington, Arkansas to compete in the 16th annual Great Watermelon Weigh-Off on Saturday, September 5th. The late summer heat did not keep a good crowd of about 75 from attending the event. A total of eight watermelons were entered, with the new state record winning watermelon for Louisiana was weighed and made official at the event, being grown just east of Monroe, Louisiana in Rayville by Ms. Judy Stansbury. After weighing her entry, it totaled to 263 pounds.
Coming in second place was her husband, Clifford “Ray” Stansbury, whose melon came to be 231 pounds. After the competition, we briefly interviewed the new record holder and her husband. Ms. Stansbury informed us that she and her husband are not farmers but love to work in their garden. The pair were gifted their first watermelon plant just five years ago, and since then have enjoyed their new found interest in growing watermelons together. Receiving the third-place honors was John Dunman of Lunsford, Arkansas, near Trumann, Arkansas. His watermelon ended up weighing 223 pounds.
Just outside of the top three were the local Bright siblings, Lloyd Bright and Barbara Bright Jones, coming in fourth and fifth. Mr. Lloyd’s melon totaled to be 199 pounds while Mrs. Barbara’s melon came to be 182 pounds. Although Mr. Lloyd’s entry came to be 199 pounds this year, his record watermelon in years past came to be 268.8 pounds, one of his world record winning melons. We interviewed the pair shortly after. For Barbara, although she has lived around watermelon growing genius her whole life with her family, she herself became heavily interested in growing her own after she retired as an RN in Bossier City, Louisiana in 2008. Since then, she has enjoyed being able to grow melons right beside her younger brother Lloyd east of Hope. Because of the extreme weather conditions, the Bright siblings decided that they will not enter into any more weighing contests this year as they usually do. However, the two assured us that they will still be in the championship hunt in 2027. Finally, Mr. Kenny Crawford of Kennett, Missouri brought his watermelon which weighed in at 175 pounds.
Two more entries were in competition for the youth division as well. Taking home first place in the youth category was Crew Montgomery also out of Kennett, Missouri. His watermelon tallied up to a good 98 pounds. Second place in the youth division was awarded to brothers Eli & Josiah Smith, from Benton, Arkansas, whose melon was weighed in at 50 pounds exactly.
For the contest, each of the watermelons were first measured by length and width and were then carried to the scale to be weighed. For prizes, the first-place winner was given $800, second place was given $600, and third place was given $500. First place in youth was given $100, while second place was given $75.
We would like to thank Josh Williams and the local sponsors for supporting and hosting the incredible event, and we congratulate the winners of this year’s competition.
Pictures from the contest by Davis Johnson
Pictured: The Bright siblings & family talking with the other contestants
Pictured: Helpers carrying the melon entries to the weighing scale
Pictured: Second place Mr. Ray Stansbury
Pictured: Third place Mr. John Dunman
Pictured: Mr. Lloyd Bright
Pictured: Mrs. Barbara Bright Jones
Pictured: Mr. Kenny Crawford
i
Pictured: Great Watermelon Youth Weigh-Off winners