Benalla farmer grows crop of massive pumpkins
Benalla’s John Drenovski has been farming in the region for decades.
Having first arrived from Melbourne in 1979 he has since farmed beef, pigs, and many other animals.
In the 1990s he helped lead the way in organic vegetables and organic fertilisers.
This was second nature to him having grown up in the former Yugoslavia, where organic living was the normal way of life.
From 1990 to 2000 his produce has been sold at many a market across the region including Violet Town and Mansfield.
He has produced organic fruits and vegetables including pumpkins, potatoes, strawberries and sweetcorn.
Now, semi-retired, he enjoys planting a private crop, allowing his friends and family to reap the rewards.
And this year he’d better hope they are peckish.
Recently he invited some of his grandchildren to help bring in the harvest.
Some required a little help to load his pumpkin crop with the largest coming in at 120kg.
Now the pressure is on to grow an even heavier one next year.