In Half Moon Bay, California, an engineer with a passion for gardening achieved a remarkable victory at a prestigious pumpkin-weighing contest. His colossal pumpkin, tipping the scales at 2,346 pounds, earned him the top spot in this Northern California competition.

Brandon Dawson, hailing from Santa Rosa, California, emerged as the champion on Monday during the 52nd World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off, held just south of San Francisco.

Overjoyed by his triumph, Dawson celebrated by raising his arms in jubilation and placing his two children atop the enormous pumpkin, which is comparable in weight to a compact car or a hefty bison.

“It’s a whirlwind of emotions, especially after coming so close last year when I missed the win by just 6 pounds,” Dawson shared in an interview.

As a manufacturing engineer at Rivian Automotive, a company known for its electric vehicles, Dawson has been cultivating giant pumpkins for half a decade. He credits his professional skills in precision for mastering the art of providing just the right amount of water and sunlight to nurture his impressive gourd.

He said he enjoys getting his children involved in the process.

“We like to spend time out in the patch and watch the thing grow,” Dawson said about his 2-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter.

“My 4-year-old now can really pay attention to the growing process,” especially since the giant pumpkins can grow by 50 to 70 pounds (23 to 32 kilograms) a day, he added.

The pumpkin champ won a $20,000 prize for growing the biggest pumpkin.

Dawson’s pumpkin was the runner up in last year’s contest at Half Moon Bay when the winning gourd grown by Minnesota horticulture teacher Travis Gienger came in at 2,471 pounds (1,121 kilograms).

Gienger, of Anoka, Minnesota, set a world record at the California contest in 2023 for the heaviest pumpkin when his giant jack-o’-lantern gourd weighed 2,749 pounds (1,247 kilograms). Gienger’s pumpkin was damaged earlier this season and he couldn’t enter this year’s contest in California.

Two brothers in England earlier this month broke Gienger’s record with a gourd that weighed 2,819 pounds (1,278kg).