Illinois woman aims for pumpkin-growing record with massive crop

STILLMAN VALLEY, Ill. (WTVO) — A Stillman Valley woman grew giant pumpkins all while chasing a record-breaking title.

“I love it, I never thought I’d be the pumpkin lady,” said Theresa Miller.

Theresa has been growing pumpkins as a hobby since she became an empty nester.

“I started growing pumpkins about 17 years ago. I’ve spent my whole summer over here, and you get so attached to them. I mean, I wake them up every morning, take their sheets off, I put them to bed, I put their sheets on them, and say good night and have a good night growing girls,” explained Miller.

She grew three pumpkins, Dimples and Roxanne. Her largest named patches. Her pumpkins will be taken to the Illinois Giant Pumpkin Association Weigh-off, where she came in second place last year. This year, she hopes to take first place.

“I want that belt. They actually have a belt, and I want that belt. We had really a week and a half of cold nights, and it slows that pumpkin down. And then I got hit with the whitefly, so that ate a lot of my plant up, and that slowed the progress down of the weight,” shared Miller

Miller plans to grow more pumpkins in the coming year. She said she’s proud of this year’s crop.

“I’m getting emotional because my seasons coming to an end. Very happy with what I have here this year,” said Miller.

The competition will be tomorrow in Minooka, Illinois.