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A 3,156-pound pumpkin may beat a month-old record

The Rhode Island farmer's pumpkin weighed in at 3,156 pounds, possibly topping a world record set less than a month ago; the cat is unavailable.

On air: Hank Ledger and Vera Bullock on BBN Tonight
Published 9:15 PM ET, Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Updated 12:08 AM ET · aired 4 times

Photo: KENPEI · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

▶ As it aired · Weird News

Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger and Vera Bullock on this story, from BBN Tonight at 9:15 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are UPI's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: KENPEI · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Giant pumpkin — Photo: KENPEI · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by UPI: “Rhode Island farmer's giant pumpkin weighs in at 3,156 pounds”.
Covered on BBN on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 9:15 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Hank Ledger and Vera Bullock; aired 4 times.
BBN covered this story before: Viola Davis and husband donate $1.2 million to her Rhode Island… (October 12).

The real story

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

UPIRhode Island farmer's giant pumpkin weighs in at 3,156 pounds

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA Rhode Island farmer brought a three thousand one hundred fifty-six pound pumpkin to a contest, possibly setting a new world record just weeks after the last one was set.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorA record that lasted under a month. That is a shorter shelf life than the pumpkin spice latte I bought at lunch.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThree thousand pounds is a small car, Vera. With a stem.

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