During the summer of 2020 and worldwide pandemic, University of Kentucky Extension Agents, Nikki Rhein and Lena Mallory looked for new ways to engage Marshall County families in healthy outdoor activities. With increasing demand for “growing your own” and victory gardens, a sunflower growing activity was an easy choice. The Agents add a competition aspect for the biggest sunflower. Extension Office staff bagged the free sunflower contest materials consisting of seeds, informational handouts, and family activities. Twelve families entered the contest and picked up their giant sunflower kits at the no contact pickup station setup at the Marshall County Extension Office.

The participating families spent the summer outside working and tending to their prospective giants. One family indicated they got more exercise by “digging, planting and then later watering them (the sunflowers) daily.”    The summer proved to be tricky with both the sprouting and the in season growing conditions yielding many lost entries. 

One family ended up winning both categories. Their giant head won the “Widest Head Contest” coming in at, eight and one quarter inches wide. They also won the “Tallest Sunflower Contest,” coming in at a staggering, nine foot, four- and three-quarter inches tall.  

A second family received honorable mention for their six and three-quarter-inch wide sunflower that reached a height of seven foot, four and seven eighth inches. 

Bragging rights and ribbons were only awarded to the winning families but every family surveyed indicated experiencing personal benefits at home. Families noted they worked on the project together as a family, increased their physical activity and learned more about growing plants. One said, “We had a blast. It was a learning process, but we made it a really fun family project!”