The Good Stuff: Giant pumpkins from Southwest Virginia headed to Dollywood

BANDY, Va. (WCYB) — At Hidden Springs Farm in Bandy, Virginia, Priscilla Edwards and her boys are hard at work taking care of their crops.

I love farming because it teaches my boys everything," Edwards said.

From math to agriculture, and hard work.

"I think it’s very rewarding to teach your kids how to put in the work because if you work hard, you’re going to see great rewards after," she added.

Priscilla and her sons Caden and Nolan, have been working hard recently to grow some giant pumpkins.

"We have season passes at Dollywood, fall is our favorite time of year to go, and we see the giant pumpkins," she said.

Caden said when they saw the pumpkins, "I just said, I wish I could grow a big pumpkin like that."

Edwards said they decided to grow them and the goal was to maybe get some displayed in Dollywood one year.

So the Edwards planted the seeds, working each day to take care of them.

The person who sold the seeds told them they should easily hit 500 pounds in the first year but not to be stressed if they don't.

Little did they know, the pumpkins in the Edwards patch would grow, and grow, leaving those driving by saying "oh my gourd."

The Edward's biggest pumpkin named Godzilla, weighs over 1100 pounds.

If you work hard you get rewards," Caden said.

The reward for the Edwards family was Dollywood wanting some of their pumpkins.

"We heard they were going to take our pumpkins, and it was really exciting for us," Caden said.

"I was shocked at first, I didn't think it would happen," Edwards added. "When Dollywood showed interest in our three biggest pumpkins, we were just beyond excited. I may have even cried a little bit because it was our goal. Our goal was to grow a giant, and then one day get it in Dollywood, and then here we are. It was exciting for all of us."

The pumpkins can now be viewed at Dollywood.