DES MOINES, Iowa —

Pete and Alba Caspers' pumpkin didn't just win this year's Biggest Pumpkin Contest at the Iowa State Fair, it squashed the all-time record.

» See all of our Iowa State Fair coverage here .

The Caspers, from Peosta, started growing their champion pumpkin on March 11. During its peak growth, it grew almost 35 pounds a day and, today, it weighed in at 1,409 pounds.

That beats the previous record of 1,323 pounds and nearly triples this year's second-place finishera 552-pound pumpkin grown by Martin Schnicker of Mount Pleasant. Rusty Caspers of Anamosa earned third place with an entry weighing 465 pounds.

The entry from Lucas, Matthew and Mary Schnicker of Mt. Pleasant was named Prettiest Pumpkin, besting 6 other challengers.

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