Every Halloween season, Bill Trautwien transforms the property of 300 Glen Annie Rd., into a local spectacle–a home to enormous pumpkins.

Between August and October, a massive pumpkin sits on its own little patch, drawing the attention of neighbors. Each year, Trautwein enters the pumpkin into competitions to claim the title of the heaviest pumpkin grown in Santa Barbara County.

“There were two pumpkins that survived to go to the competition this year, and one of them was 1,035 pounds,” Trautwein said. “It went to Irvine for the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth-sanctioned event, where it weighed 1035 pounds, and took fourth place.”

Trautwein’s fascination with large pumpkins has become an annual fall tradition in Goleta, dating back 30 years ago.

“I saw an article in the paper of some guy that grew some really big pumpkins, around 600 pounds,” Trautwein said. “So, I cut out the article and stuffed it in my sock drawer. Then maybe 10 years later, I found that article, called the [organization], got some seeds sent to me, and that’s when I started growing giant pumpkins.”

Even though he loves growing pumpkins as a hobby, Trautwien said his true enjoyment comes from seeing how the massive pumpkins bring people together.

“There’s a lot of effort involved, and it’s just a hobby,” Trauwein said. “But the reason I really do it is because when someone sees a giant pumpkin for like five or 10 minutes, all their problems kind of go away, and they are just amazed.”

The enormous pumpkins are grown on a certified organic farm, where they grow at what Trautwein calls a “very speedy rate.”

“In about 90 days, from June to the end of September, the pumpkin puts on 900 or 1,000 pounds or more,” Trautwein said. “During July, they can have a growth period where they can put on 20, 30, 40 pounds in a day. The big ones can put on closer to 60 pounds a night, which can last for 10 days to two weeks.”

Trautwein begins the growing process in March so that by April, the pumpkins begin to emerge in the field. When fall rolls around, the pumpkins are ready to compete for titles and awards.

These pumpkins are a labor of love – and will continue to be for years to come.