Leslie Bowles displays her 907-pound pumpkin in the pumpkin patch before it was shipped to Washington, D.C.--Contributed Photo

Bowles supplies
giant pumpkin
for White House Halloween parties

By Gary Ridderbusch
News-Review Asst. Editor

Dan Bowles of Eagle River, known locally as the man who grows giant pumpkins for competition, has added a new feather in his pumpkin-growing hat.

He recently supplied a pumpkin for President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama’s White House Halloween parties for more than 2,600 youths.

The largest of the special pumpkins at the White House was actually grown by Bowles’ daughter, Leslie Bowles.

Bowles has been growing pumpkins competitively for four years and is president of the Wisconsin Giant Pumpkin Growers club.

The Presidential Pumpkin weighed in at 907 pounds, but several of his pumpkins have topped 1,000 pounds. He grew a state record 1,116-pound pumpkin in 2006 and weighed in a 1,313-pound orange monster last year.

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