Donald Murphy and grandchildren pose with his 184-pound watermelon.
Yesterday, the State Farmers Market hosted its annual Watermelon Day with free watermelon slices, free activity books and a visit from N.C. Watermelon Queen Madelyn Varner. The main attraction of the celebration, however, was the largest-watermlon contest.
Dozens of spectators braved the midday heat with watermelon slices in-hand to watch six sizable challengers weigh in. Each watermelon weighed more than 130 pounds, and each took at least three staff members to lift on the scale.
Jimmy Britt, a first-time presenter from Fair Bluff, set the bar high early in the competition with his 180-pound watermelon, but then last year’s second-place winner, Donald Murphy of Pink Hill, brought his watermelon to the scale. At 184 pounds, Murphy’s watermelon was declared the winner.
Other winners were:
Second place: Jimmy Britt of Fair Bluff, 180 pounds
Third place: Larry Boyette of Kenly, 170.5 pounds
Fourth place: H.C. Williams of Bailey, 168.5 pounds
More Watermelon Day photos are available on our Flickr page. The blue-ribbon melon will be on display at the State Farmers Market Restaurant during the month of August, but if you are looking for a smaller watermelon that doesn’t require three people to lift, you can find one at local farmers markets and roadside stands across the state. To find a location near you, go to www.ncfarmfresh.com.