Students grow giant pumpkins in honor of researchers late husband

DULUTH, Minn. — Seniors at UMD grew giant pumpkins in honor of a researcher’s late husband.

The pumpkins were grown to honor University researcher, Val Brady’s husband, Danny Tanner, who died in February.

He loved growing pumpkins, so in his memory, Brady got her students together to grow pumpkins.

The student manager of the UMD land lab, Justin Cilenti, said they hope to get the campus involved in growing produce, and that growing the pumpkins isn’t easy.

“Pumpkins are not native to Northern MN. They’re native to Mexico and regions of the southwest. So it’s a different animal trying to grow a plant here that doesn’t grow here normally,” said Cilenti, “Val described instances where one of his pumpkins got scratched, a mouse got to it, or a deer took a bite out of it. He carried the pumpkin in his arms and showed the neighbors, and described his sadness about this pumpkin being eaten by critters.”

Cilenti said they hope to have the pumpkins at boo at the Zoo for the kids to climb on and play.