From agricultural wonder to work of art: Massive Rockford pumpkin gets makeover from celebrity carvers

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Miss Impressive started as a garden project in Theresa Miller’s backyard. This weekend it’s being transformed from a work of agriculture into a work of art.

Miller’s massive pumpkin, which she named Miss Impressive for obvious reasons, weighed in at 1,871 pounds before three celebrated pumpkin artists began a three-day process to carve an elaborate display into the oversized shell.

“I’m so excited. I’ve got three professional carvers here,” Miller said Thursday at Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden. “It’s enjoyable to share her with everyone, and seeing the looks on people’s faces.”

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Three carvers with multiple appearances on the Food Network, including Rockford’s Lincoln Bias, began carving what’s been declared as Rockford’s biggest pumpkin Thursday night at Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St.

Their work is part of Klehm’s Eerie Autumn Lights event, a monthlong outdoor art experience that fills the gardens and the fall foliage with light displays and Halloween-themed activities and installations.

The trio of carvers are doing their work during the event over the next two days, expecting to finish on Saturday.

“Whenever I go to make a cut with my knife I have to say, make it bigger, make it bigger,” said Bias, a self-taught carver who has three gold medals for excellence in carving from the National Black Chef Association. “It expands my reach. It makes me think more and it helps me develop more skill and hand-eye coordination.”

Bias has been on Food Network’s “Halloween Wars,” “The Road to Halloween” and “Outrageous Pumpkins.” Joining him at Klehm are fellow carvers Carli Ihde of Appleton, Wisconsin, and Alan Silva of southern California.

They collaborated to create a Mother Nature-inspired design on the gigantic gourd.

“We just started from an idea and a sketch, and it just blossomed from there,” Silva said. “We just said we have space to add animals, we have space to add sea creatures.”

Alex Mills, executive director of Klehm, said they are excited about what Bias adds to Eerie Autumn Lights.

“His extraordinary talent will truly elevate the event,” Mills said. “This is a unique opportunity for our community to witness an amazing live carving experience, and we can’t wait to see everyone come together to celebrate the season in such a spectacular way.”

Rockford’s biggest pumpkin is one of two on display from Miller, who also brought a 1,260-pound pumpkin she named Tater Tot.

Miller said the massive pumpkins can require 100 to 120 gallons of water per day. During their biggest growth spurts, they can gain 60 pounds a day, she said. They also require constant care so their growth isn’t derailed by bugs, disease or other issues.

Minnesota grower Travis Gienger has the record for the largest pumpkin ever grown, setting the record in 2023 with a 2,749-pound pumpkin.

Miller, who is retired, said good soil and genetics are key to growing a massive pumpkin. For example, Miss Impressive, which was planted in early May, came from the seed of a 2,400-pound pumpkin.

“They kind of name themselves,” Miller said. “She impressed me every time I looked at her every morning. She kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger.”

Know before you go | Eerie Autumn Lights

When: Wednesdays through Sundays, Oct. 3-27; Each night Oct. 28-31

Where: Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St., Rockford

Times: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Cost: $12 for adults; $6 for youth ages 12 and younger

Tickets/info: klehm.org/eerie-autumn-lights

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas