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Ontario

The Giant Vegetable Growers of Ontario (GVGO) are excited to announce that sign-ups are now open for the 2025 Mike DeMars Memorial Mater Contest! This fun, team-based contest honours our great friend Mike “Zeke” DeMars and is open to all paid GVGO members — no matter where you live. Not yet a member? No problem — you can join for just $15 (CAD) with our non-seed membership option! Growers will be grouped into teams of three using a draft system based on past personal bests, to keep things fair. You can submit as many tomatoes as you like, but only your two biggest will count toward your team’s total.
New for 2025: We've added a $150 (CAD) cash prize for the single biggest tomato entered — you don't have to be on the winning team to win it! Plus, the team with the highest combined weight will win $50 (CAD) per team member.
If you have questions or want to sign up, email Bob MacKenzie at mackenzi@bmts.com before May 17th — we’re aiming to have the teams finalized by then.
Let’s grow some giants in 2025!     

5/8/2025 8:07:38 AM

On a cliff in the desert

In the past, you were not required to be a member of a specific club to join.

I can understand an entry fee for prize fund and expenses.

5/8/2025 10:56:52 AM

Littlerock, WA

So established teams won't get to compete, it's all draft?

5/8/2025 12:28:47 PM

San Diego, CA

For clarification, this is not the OG contest Porkchop has been been Championing for many years. This is a separate contest that the GVGO is hosting, which was Zeke's home club.

Porkchop's contest announcement will come shortly and will have the same Open and Draft division format as previous years. We might have to change the contest name to avoid confusion.

5/8/2025 2:44:45 PM

Ontario

I just wanted to clarify: this is not the contest run by Saswampo and Porkchop. This is a completely separate contest that we have been running within our club, the GVGO, for several years. Zeke was a longstanding member of the GVGO, and this contest is held in his memory.
I'm simply trying to promote it more now that we have increased the prize structure. There’s no reason you can’t enter both contests and use the same tomatoes for each.
The only differences with our contest are that it is a draft pick format, and you must be a member of the GVGO to participate.
Sorry for any confusion!
I also forgot to mention: if a new, officially recognized world record tomato is registered in our contest, the grower will receive an additional $350.00 CAD.

5/8/2025 2:47:17 PM

Central NY

Zeke would get so fired up this time of year….good luck everyone!!! 10 pounders for AlL!!!! Kick some ASS!!

5/8/2025 6:09:28 PM