Families face off in pumpkin-growing competition

SALMON CREEK — A few Vancouver families are facing one another in their own pumpkin-growing competition. The contest that has no name started three years ago between five friends. “The rules are simple — there are none. The trash talking is no joke. The winner gets a trophy and bragging rights for the next year. The losers have to jump into Lake Merwin in November while the winner gloats,” said Haley Pearson, wife of Jeff Pearson, who is on a pumpkin-growing team with his friend Jeff Carlsen. The Pearsons are growing their giant pumpkin at Carlsen’s home in Salmon Creek. “They expect to do the official weigh-in right around Halloween,” Pearson said.