Maintenance Staff Randy Palmer, who's about six foot three, stands next to his gigantic approximately 1600 pound pumpkin at Chenango Valley Home. (Photo by Catherine Sasso)

NORWICH – Chenango Valley Home has started a new venture of growing massive pumpkins as a way to bring some joy and and excitement to residents.

The nursing facility is now home to three oversized pumpkins each weighing approximately 900 pounds or more. The largest one is currently being approximated to weigh just shy of 1,600 pounds according to maintenance worker Randy Palmer.

Palmer started growing the pumpkins from seed back in May. Recently one of Palmers pumpkins traveled to Putnam, Connecticut to be weighed in The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth competition. His pumpkin placed 12th out of 17 and weighed 968.5 pounds.