DOSWELL—The winner of this year’s State Fair of Virginia giant pumpkin competition broke his own record.

Hank Houston of Spotsylvania County grew the largest entry, a pumpkin that weighed in at 1,340.7 pounds. His 1,203.2-pound winning entry in 2014 broke the State Fair record set in 2007 by a 1,138-pound pumpkin grown by William Layton of Nelson County.

The giant pumpkin and giant watermelon competitions were held Sept. 26. This year's winning watermelon weighed 161.12 pounds and was grown by Davis Wells of Hanover County.

Wells’ 2014 watermelon entry took second place, weighing in at 198.1 pounds. His and the winning 2014 melon, which weighed 218.5 pounds, both broke the previous record —which Wells set in 2007—of 190.5 pounds. J.R. Brent of Lancaster County grew the winning melon in 2014.

Media: Contact Kathy Dixon, VFBF communications, at 804-290-1133.