U.S.LOCAL NEWS DESK

Rhode Island farmer grows 3,156-pound pumpkin, a new record

The three thousand one hundred fifty-six pound gourd was raised by a Rhode Island farmer; it is roughly the weight of a small car.

On air: Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock on BBN Tonight
Published 7:08 PM ET, Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0

▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock on this story, from BBN Tonight at 7:08 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The New York Times's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Pumpkin — Photo: Infrogmation of New Orleans · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0

At a glance

First reported by The New York Times: “There’s a New Great Pumpkin to Rule Them All”.
Covered on BBN on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 7:08 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock.
Topics: Rhode Island.
BBN covered this story before: Rhode Island farmer's giant pumpkin weighs in at 3,156 pounds (October 13).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

The New York TimesThere’s a New Great Pumpkin to Rule Them All

What BBN said about it

Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorTonight, BBN team coverage of a historic day in Rhode Island, where a farmer has raised a three thousand one hundred fifty-six pound pumpkin, according to The New York Times.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThree thousand pounds. That is a pumpkin you would have to ask permission to carve.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorOur live map, which is mostly the pumpkin, shows the gourd holding its position across the entire state of Rhode Island.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorRhode Island is the smallest state, Chip, so that tracks.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorIt set a new measure for the greatest of all gourds, and I am prepared to say it is the finest vegetable of our lifetimes.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorFruit, Chip. Botanically it's a fruit, and I have never been prouder of one.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorBefore the top of the hour, did the mayor actually watch that New York governor debate?
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThree thousand one hundred fifty-six pounds. I want a recount, and I want it in pie.

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