MICHELE MCDONALD FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

Woody Lancaster has a giant pumpkin growing in his backyard in Topsfield.

MICHELE MCDONALD FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE

Lancaster will bring his pumpkin to the Topsfield Fair, considered by many to be the world’s premier giant pumpkin weigh-in.

Gretchen Ertl for the Boston Globe

One of Ron Wallace's giant pumpkins may hit the coveted one-ton mark.

Gretchen Ertl for the Boston Globe

Richard Wallace, Ron's father, points to a pumpkin nicknamed “The Pleasure Dome,” which he thinks may top the one-ton barrier.

Gretchen Ertl for the Boston Globe

The current world record for a pumpkin is 1,818.5 pounds. One of Wallace's pumpkins last year grew to more than 1,700 pounds.

Gretchen Ertl for the Boston Globe

“I don’t do this for newspapers, or for publicity for Topsfield. I do this for the competition,” Ron Wallace (left) said.