Big Pumpkins Grown in Jasper County

(AUSTIN AND TODD EBBERT POSE WITH THEIR BIG PUMPKINS)

The father-and-son team of Todd and Austin Ebbert will be in Minooka on Saturday, weighing in against other pumpkin growers from across the state.

Todd Ebbert said the massive gourds should weigh in around 700 pounds. Ebbert is a former Effingham city police officer who now works in gaming in the Metro East area, but grew the pumpkins on his father's farm near Gila.

Ebbert said it's been a good growing year because of all of the rain.

(A SOLO SHOT OF THE PUMPKINS)

Minooka is near Kankakee. Ebbert thinks it'll be a good time visiting with other growers. He doesn't think he and Austin will win, but thinks they could get a Top 10 finish. 

Austin Ebbert said this is their third year to grow the pumpkins. They used a loader to move the pumpkins onto the trailer to be used to transport them to the competition.