Travis Gienger, Minnesota's celebrated pumpkin grower and reigning champion at the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California, will not be entering a giant this year. His 2025 entry, a 1,300-pound gourd named "Happy," suffered internal rot caused by a small pinhole in the blossom end-an invisible flaw that halted its growth and shattered Gienger's hopes of a fourth consecutive title.

"I had to chop it up, get rid of it," Gienger said, recalling the moment he realized Happy wouldn't make it to the scale. Despite the size and early promise, the damage was irreversible.

Gienger's pumpkin-growing efforts began, as always, in April. By July, he was publicly documenting the progress on social media. "Happy is just learning how to putt (or grow)," he joked, naming the pumpkin after the sequel to Happy Gilmore. But in early August, a subtle sign of rot appeared. Upon inspecting a cut on the blossom end, Gienger noticed a suspicious depression. Though it hadn't penetrated fully, it was enough. The pumpkin stopped growing three weeks later.

The loss was more than agricultural. Gienger, who's known nationally for both his pumpkins and public persona, had been followed closely this season by a Star Tribune documentary team, tracking what many assumed would be another championship journey. "They were following me and whatnot, and then it sucked because we lost it," he said.

Since his first win in 2020 with a pumpkin named Tiger King, Gienger has become a fixture on the giant pumpkin circuit. In 2022, he won again with Maverick, and in 2023 he shattered the world record with Michael Jordan, a 2,749-pound giant. Last year, he won with Rudy, weighing in at 2,471 pounds and earning over $22,000 in prize money.

This year marks only the second time in six seasons that Gienger won't compete in Half Moon Bay. "The last time was 2021, when I didn't have anything, so it sucked," he said. He'll still participate in smaller contests with other pumpkins weighing between 300 and 1,000 pounds, but admits "nothing giant" is in the patch.

Despite the setback, Gienger remains deeply connected to the competitive pumpkin scene, tracking top contenders worldwide. "A lot of people struggled this year," he said. "A lot of splits."

Yet, while his growing season ended early, his personal life saw growth of a different kind: the birth of his second child, now three months old. "She is 3 months old," he said proudly. "A reminder that life's biggest joys aren't always measured by a scale."

Looking ahead, Gienger is already thinking about 2026. He plans to use the same biological fertility program that produced record-breaking results with pumpkins-and has proven successful in sunflowers and cannabis too.

"If we continue to grow, we'll figure it out again. Use the same program. It works," he said confidently.

While the title and ceremonial ring and coat will go to someone else this year, Gienger is philosophical. "You're handing off the ring, you're handing off the coat," he said. "But at least I don't have to drive 35 hours to California this time."

With four wins in five years, Gienger's legacy is already secure. "That's a run that I don't think too many people can back," he said.