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Canfield business owner pitches Mahoning County to host international giant-pumpkin convention
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Summary
Bill Hendricks, representing the Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers, told commissioners March 19 he won a bid to host an international growers convention in Canfield and asked the county for partnership; he estimated 300–500 attendees and highlighted tourism benefits.
Bill Hendricks, a Canfield business owner and representative of the Ohio Valley Giant Pumpkin Growers nonprofit, told Mahoning County commissioners on March 19 that the group secured a bid to host an international growers convention and asked for county partnership to help secure speakers and outreach.
"I'm Bill Hendricks. I have a business in Canfield, Ohio and also have an addiction to, growing giant pumpkins," Hendricks said, identifying himself to the commissioners before outlining the nonprofit’s 31-year history and the bid to host the international convention at Waypoint. He said the convention includes education sessions on best practices for growing and environmental stewardship and features growers from around the world.
Hendricks said the convention would bring downstream revenue through hotel bookings, dining, shopping and pre-conference activities. He estimated the core event could attract about 300 attendees and said a goal of 500 attendees was possible with additional outreach. "So comfortably, I would say 300 for the actual event... I'd like to see 500 for this event," he told the commissioners.
Hendricks described typical participant expenditures — from seeds he said can cost about $100 each to growers who may spend more than $1,200 on growing — and noted that prior conventions have driven hotel stays and visits to local attractions. He asked the county to help by providing contacts and support to secure speakers from Ohio and elsewhere, and said he and local partners were working with the Convention & Visitors Bureau on promotion.
The commissioners thanked Hendricks for the presentation; no formal county commitment or funding was made during the meeting. The CVB representative (Tara) and county staff were present during the presentation and later discussed next steps informally. The board adjourned after routine agenda items and set its next meeting for the following Thursday at 10:00.
