People need to get a life! Really? You want to talk smack about a pumpkin that was blown down in a storm? Huge trees went down, should no one have large trees on their property in case there is a storm? People who want to think they are now some kind of expert about large pumpkins, or think you know better than the owners of the market, GET A HOBBY! Maybe an antidepressant, seems you are pretty miserable in your own life!

tom3205, the gas station's proposed site is south of the cow next to Kwik Trip

Stay in Delavan Bigdaddy, we like our big pumpkin and when it gets hurt, we hurt.Thanks Meyer Farm for giving us something fun to talk about,you'll get my business anyday.

we have a business in Delaven that had alot of Damage and too close for a day, and it also could hamper the full opening of the Resort that has been closed for almost 6 months. But they talk about this Pumpkin Gazette what is news to you?

The apple is still standing in Newville (old Red Apple Resturant) now Culver's.

The Pumpkin had been there for years and two really bad storms this year is just bad luck and bad timing for that 2nd pumpkin.

Why not hire Charlioe Brown for advice? Isn't he THE expert on pumpkins?

Seriously, Zoom has the best suggestion. Simply hire an engineer

really people? do you think before you post? If we experience a tornado then everything in sight is fair game, not just the pumpkin. We don't control mother nature anymore than we can control what path of destruction it creates. If the next farm down loses a roof in a storm and the roof blows towards I-90, or the next farms tractor gets picked up and put down on I-90, do we tell them they shouldn't get another roof or tractor because it's too dangerous? As for the debris from the old pumpkin flying around, you show me one single piece of property that doesn't have loose things that can fly around, and I will show you a vacant lot. Get over yourselves and if you are afraid of getting hit by the great pumpkin on the interstate, then don't be the fool that is out driving around in that kind of weather.

Hire an engineer to design the anchor method. Cheaper than insurance.

My favorite band is the Smashing Pumpkins. Maybe they should leave the smashed pumpkins out for a more realistic touch. :)

Whoever built the silo should build the next pumpkin.

Wouldn't those fields be his?
I agree with the comments what if it was blown to the I? Yikes.

AH... Question is... what will happen to the cow when the new gas station is built there ????

God I hope the Cow in Janesville survived the storm.

Justaname, How does insulting someone you don't even know (nor do I) improve the content of this article? Why the hate?

Pieces of the 1st one are scattered and one is 20 feet from the interstate,sorry about the pumkin,real sorry for the farmers crops they can't be replaced this year.Corn fields are laying flat and what oats was still standing is toast !

Finally someone has insurance.

Northman. Years ago, a guy named Walt Disney built a castle on swampy land in Florida. Today, it brings so much joy & happiness to so many children [and adults]. Aren't you glad that no one said "Walt, it's not feasible".???

Seriously people!? You are feeling bad for this man about his "giant pumpkin" advertising piece falling off of an old silo. It appears to me that this second "more secure" pumpkin made it half way across the field toward the interstate! What happens if we experience a tornado instead of extremely high winds and the pumpkin reaches the interstate potentially harming people or worse! I think its a cool idea too, its an attraction that people notice. But I think its time to think of something else for Mr. Meyer to attract people to his farm before something bad happens. And after reading his comments in the last article it appears Mr. Myers ego is bigger than the pumpkin itself! The news should be about all the damaged crops I witnessed driving the area this morning and the potential loss the farmers in the area will experience. And no I am not a farmer nor am I affiliated with any other markets in the area..just my .02!

BEST COMMENT SO FAR --> The very first comment and I would agree with you. Paint it on the side of the silo along with other various farm related things. It would be nice to see Mr. Meyer donate the insurance money(left after the painting of the silo)and donate it to a charity. Maybe a higher power is sending you a message on how and where to use your money to help others.

Maybe next time they anchor the pumpkin,they should get advise from the city of Janesburg!
Seeing they are EXPERTS in spending our money for expert advise for resolutions to the best way of doing things(ice arena for one) SARCASM ofcoarse!!

Bolt it to what?? The silo in itself is not strong enough to have a bolt every 6" as that type of silo is made of blocks.
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Cabling is the best way to anchor it but you need to have the correct angles for the anchor cables, the correct attachment points on the pumpkin, and the correct anchor hardware. Its a trigonometry formula after you know the surface area of the pumpkin to calculate moment(force)of the affects of wind on the pumpkin. Its the same thing a utility company calculates for the guying of a pole that might have a transformer, a street light, and various conductors leaving the pole at various angles.

I'm sorry the family has to go through this again. I hope they put another one up :-)

Bryan is competent. When they got this pumpkin to replace the one from last year's fall, it wasn't made to the specifications ordered...Bryan had to make some last minute adjustments to it, but looks like he should have just sent it back to the manufacturer for corrections, instead. Hopefully the THIRD time will be the charm. :)

Design it like a golf ball with all the dimples less wind resistance

Northman, I agree, but it's their money.
The new anchoring system may be to blame.
Maybe the third time will be the charm.
Or maybe the third will burst aflame before dismounting.

Thanks Northman, gotta love "The Grail".

“Everyone said I was daft to build a castle on a swamp, but I built in all the same, just to show them. It sank into the swamp. So I built a second one. That sank into the swamp. So I built a third. That burned down, fell over, then sank into the swamp.”

Even with pumpkins, know when to say when. It is a cool idea, but obviously not feasible.

Wicked witch on a bicycle? Evil monkeys? Pigs? Why no, it's the Great Pumpkin flying by!

I agree sigma. I like the thing up there because it is cool to see when I roll by on the I, but if it is gonna continue to fall, what's the point? Trying to get someone killed???

Seems insurance wouldn't be needed. Poor instal this time.
The other one was up there long time. It isn't like we have never had high winds.

Maybe use "fasteners". The size of that thing should have had at leat 1/2" concrete anchors all the way around it...every 6 inches. So it just sat up there with 4 cables holding it down??? wow, absolutely no thought into it at all. Surface area + wind was never accounted for.

Design it right or don't do it again. We love the pumkin but if you can't get it secured it isn't worth the risk.

My kids and grandkids all loved that pumpkin It's too bad that Mr. Meyers has to go through this again. I know it was an idea which took flight many years ago and, apparently, it still is. Thanks to Mr. Meyers for the family entertainment.

I would think adding some "holes" or making it out of a wire or mesh material to reduce wind resistance might help.

Maybe they should just paint a pumpkin on the side of the silo. :)