Yugoslav Gourd Lovers Society

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The Yugoslav Gourd Lovers Society (in local language: Društvo ljubitelja tikava) was registered on October 6th 1994.

The emblem of our Gourd Lovers Society shows a man wearing national costume, standing on a gourd. It is based on a story about the native local peasant, called "lala", who is famous for his hospitality and wisdom. According to an old folk song, working on the corn field, "lala" climbed up on a large gourd, locally called "ludaja", so that he could see his hometown, Kikinda, from the top of it. "Lala" (the local peasant), standing on a "ludaja" (a gourd) and screening his eyes with his hands so that he could see his sweet home better, has served as the motive of the emblem of the town of Kikinda as well as of our Society. It symbolizes peacefulness, diligence, tradition and prosperity.

The newsletter of the Yugoslava Gourd Lovers Society is called Ludaja. It contains interesting articles and news written by devoted gourd lovers, poets and scientists. Number 4 is under preparation and will be devoted completely to 12^th Pumpkin days.

2001 Giant Weigh-Offs

October 13, 2001

PUMPKIN DAYS - KIKINDA, YUGOSLAVIA

First Place Giant

Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad

247 kg / 544.5418 lbs

Grower of the 2001 Giant Winner - Janos Berenji

EXTRA LONG GOURD WINNERS
From left to right: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place

Sharing the Gourdglow

YUGOSLAV KIDS HAVING FUN !!!

GIANT PUMPKIN WEIGH-OFF RESULTS

(First name and family name, City, Weight in kg)

1. Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, 247.0
Janos Berenji's - Yugoslavia
Grower of the 247 kg First Place Giant

2. Marton JANOSI, Temerin, 118.4

3. Branko GVOZDENOVIC, Zitiste, 102.2

4. Aleksandar SVIRCEV, Idjos, 83.4

5. Sandor GRUBOR, Temerin, 81.7

6. Dana ZIVOJINOV, Kikinda, 77.5

7. Miodrag ILIC, Medvedja, 71.6

8. Lazar PETKOV, Kikinda, 69.6

9. Bojan ILIC, Medvedja, 66.6

10., Istvan CUZDI, Ada, 63,6

11. Milan SIVACKI, Kikinda, 61.7

12. Ivan JERINKIC, Kikinda, 60.6

13. Slobodan VELICKOV, Kikinda, 57.4

14. Antal SUTKA, Ada, 49.8

15. Svetozar MILOSEVIC, Dublje, 46.6

EXTRA LONG GOURD RESULTS

(First name and family name, City, length in cm)

1. Ilona ELEK, Temerin, 206

2. Jelena MILOSAVLJEVIC, Kikinda, 200

3. Vera KARLOVIC, Mokrin, 198

4. Aniko JANOSI, Temerin, 194

5. Dusan MILOSEV, Kikinda, 193

6. Milan SIVACKI, Kikinda, 187

7. Ivan JERINKIC, Kikinda, 184

8. Zarko VUJIN, Kikinda, 177

9. Jovan NADRLJANSKI, Kikinda, 174

10. Milojko ZIVOJINOV, Kikinda, 173

11. Jelena RAJIC, Kikinda, 165

12. Ivana VUJIN, Kikinda, 162

13. Nemanja VUCKOVIC, Kikinda, 157

14. Bogdan ZERAVICA, Kikinda, 153

15. Ilija VELIMIROV, Kikinda, 152

16. Dragan TIMOTIC, Novi Sad, 129

2001

Janos Berenji's Visits Pasco Washington

1998 GIANT PUMPKIN COMPETITION

FIRST PLACE GIANT PUMPKIN WINNER

Janos Berenjii 125 kg

1997 GIANT PUMPKIN COMPETITION

The Yugoslav national giant pumpkin weigh-off competition, organized by the Yugoslav Gourd Lovers Society, was held on 4th October 1997 in the town of Kikinda as part of the general program of the 12th Pumpkin Days. The results were rather modest as expected, due to unfavorable climatic conditions. All the results were verified by official judges and represent official Yugoslav records for 1997.

First, Second and Third Place Extra Long Gourds 1997

**Giant pumpkin class**
Placement	First name and surname	Town	Result
1ST	Dragan MOMCILOV	Kikinda	76,5 kg
2ND	Dana ZIVOJINOV	Kikinda	71,8 kg
2ND	Goran STEPANOV	Kikinda	71,8 kg
3RD	Djura MARTINOV	Srpska Crnja	65,7 kg
Extra long gourd class
1ST	Jelena MILOSAVLJEVIC	Kikinda	209 cm
2ND	Darjan GARDINOVACKI	Novi Sad	197 cm
3RD	Branislav DRAZIC	Kikinda	196 cm
Giant plants
extra high	Jovan DRAZIC	Kikinda	400 cm
sunflower	Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops	Novi Sad	373 cm
sunflower head	Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops	Novi Sad	40 cm
giant grape	Nada KORAC	Novi Sad	1,8 kg
giant kohlrabi	Branko ERDELJAN	Idjos	8,4 kg
extra high maize	Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops	Novi Sad	292 cm
giant sugarbeet	Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops	Novi Sad	5,5 kg

Weigh-In of Giant Pumpkins and Long Gourds

Kikinda

Province of Voivodina, Northern part of Yugoslavia

The town of Kikinda (Province of Voivodina, Northern part of Yugoslavia) is famous about the Pumpkin Days (in local language: Dani ludaje) held every autumn in order to cherish traditions related to gourds, pumpkins and squashes. The Gourd Lovers Society serves as one of the organizers of this popular manifestation. During the two days of this children show there skills in making masks (jack'o-lanterns) from pumpkins and organizing an exhibition of paintings motivated by gourds. The weigh-off of giant weight and extra long pumpkins, competition in preparing specialties from pumpkins and a lot of music are segments of this joyful manifestation which was held 12^th time in 1997 attended by more than three thousand people from all over the country.

We, the Yugoslav gourd lovers, hope that gourdening and love between all of us will overcome the present confused political situation in our region just as fast, as the quick-growing, beautiful tendrils of the gourds cover the ground of our gardens ~ Dr. Janos Berenji 1997

COORDINATOR - PRESIDENT OF THE YUGOSLAV GOURD LOVERS SOCIETY

JANOS BERENJI

Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops

21470 Backi Petrovac

Yugoslavia

e-mail: berenji@EUnet.yu

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Gourds by Jeanie