Pictures: Giant pumpkin weighing nearly 1 ton sets California record

Leonardo Urena pumps his fist as he stands next to his 986 kilograms pumpkin. Urena, a farmer and pumpkin hobbyist from Napa, has won first place at the 46th annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh Off, setting a record for the largest in California. He has won $15,000 when his pumpkin logged 986 kilograms.

Leonardo Urena pumps his fist as he stands next to his prize winning pumpkin. The 51-year-old says he took up the hobby in 2000 and says he enjoys the pumpkin growing community. He also won the Half Moon Bay contest in 2011. Urena says he always tells his pumpkins he's proud of them and he encourages them to keep growing.

Workers take measurements of giant pumpkins during the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California.

Cindy Tobeck of Olympia, Washington, stands on tiop of her 1,736 pound pumpkin during the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California.

A giant pumpkin sits in the bed of a pickup truck before the start of the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California.

Workers take measurements of giant pumpkins during the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California.

A participant sits atop her 1,736 pound pumpkin during the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California.

Leonardo Urena of Napa, California, reacts after learning his pumpkin aet a new California weight record, in Half Moon Bay, California.

Jack LaRue inspects the underside of a giant pumpkin during the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California.

Cindy Tobeck of Olympia, Washington, sits on top of her 1,736 pound pumpkin as the heaviest giant pumpkins are displayed during the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California.

Workers take measurements of giant pumpkins during the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California.

A massive pumpkin grin by Leonardo Urena of Napa, California, is lowered on a scale with a forklift, in Half Moon Bay, California.

A forklift picks up a giant pumpkin from the bed of a truck before the start of the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, California.