STILLWATER, Minn. — A Wisconsin farmer has taken the top prize in a global pumpkin competition.

Fond du Lac farmer Jim Ford won the giant pumpkin weigh-off this weekend at the Stillwater Harvest Fest in Minnesota.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Fond du Lac farmer takes giant pumpkin to global competition

Ford's pumpkin weighed in at a whopping 2,491 pounds, according to a post from the fest on Sunday. As for how he's able to grow huge pumpkins, Ford said in an interview with NBC 26 that the key is to grow it early and keep it healthy.

"It's just like a little baby," Ford said. "We don't want them too hot. We don't want them too cold. We want them just right."

The world record for the heaviest pumpkin is 2,819 pounds, which was recently set by twin brothers in England.

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