Minnesotan wins pumpkin weigh-off with 2,471-pound gourd

A Minnesota horticulture teacher remains the reigning champ of growing ridiculously large pumpkins .

The big picture: A giant gourd grown by Travis Gienger of Anoka was crowned the winner of the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Northern California on Monday.

By the numbers: At 2,471 pounds, it weighs the equivalent of roughly two cows.

How it happened: Gienger, who has won the competition three times before, didn't think he was on track for another victory earlier this summer.

• But he named this year's entrant Rudy in hopes of landing a come-from-behind win, Fox9 reports .

What he's saying: "We had really, really tough weather and somehow, some way, I kept on working. I had to work for this one, and we got it done at the end, but it wasn't by much, Gienger told The Associated Press .

The intrigue: While it was large enough to take the top prize, this year's winning pumpkin was actually lighter than the record-setting 2,749-pound gourd Gienger produced last year .

What's next: Gienger, who drove the gourd 35 hours to Half Moon Bay for the competition, said he'll bring it to Southern California for a Halloween carving.