A NEW LEAF

BY GREG JOHNSON
Frontiersman

PALMER — Two heads are better than one.

Just ask Steve Hubacek, a Wasilla dentist who in the span of two days broke a 20-year-old world record for growing the heaviest cabbage. Still elated over the surprising weigh-in of a 125.9-pound cabbage at the Alaska State Fair on Wednesday, Hubacek wowed a vocal crowd at the fairgrounds Friday when his biggest creation tipped the scales at 127 pounds.

“That shows that first one was not a fluke,” said Hubacek, who let out a loud whoop and pumped his fists in the air when the official weight was announced.

Named “The Beast” and “The Thrilla from Wasilla,” Hubacek’s giant cabbage was the talk of the fair on Friday. The vegetable was treated like a celebrity before the weigh-off, with fair-goers posing for photos with it.

“That is huge,” said 19-year-old Valley resident Lachlan Dennis. “It’s petty awesome. I didn’t know you could grow cabbage that big. This is where it’s at, man.”

One man who knows his giant vegetables is Valley grower Scott Robb, a world-record holder in his own right (he topped his record earlier in the week with an 82.9-pound rutabaga). Even by Robb’s standards, Hubacek’s cabbages this year were amazing to behold, he said.

“It’s just phenomenal, unheard of,” Robb said about growing two world-record cabbages in the same season. “I’m glad he didn’t push it over 130 pounds this year. I’m still trying to catch him. But, if they get too big, I may just have to retire.”

Robb, who won the weigh-off last year, finished second with an 88.5-pound cabbage.

On the other end of the giant vegetable spectrum is Mat-Su Borough Mayor Talis Colberg, who apparently became lost on the way to the giant Brussels sprout contest. Weighing in at 18.5 pounds, Colberg’s was the smallest of the 22 cabbages and the only entry to not win any prize money.

“I grow them every year, but haven’t entered in a couple of years because they’re so small,” Colberg said.

As borough mayor, he called Hubacek’s record-breakers “incredible” and “awesome,” and said it’s a big feather in the borough’s cap to have the world record holder as a resident.

“It’s great for the fair and the borough,” he said.

Dave Wartinbee of Soldotna is one of many contest volunteers, called “cabbage wranglers.” Each year, he hefts the hearty heads to determine their order in the weigh-off. Right away this year he knew Hubacek’s cabbage was different.

“I only got to lift about half of it or a third of it, and I could tell it was bigger than anything we’ve ever had here. Steve’s was much bigger. I knew it was a record. We all did.”

What started as a hobby 14 years ago has morphed into a world-class talent for Hubacek. He’s entered the Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off the past four years, winning twice. He topped the scales in 2007 with a head that weight more than 87 pounds.

Known for its giant vegetables, the cabbage contest has been the highlight of the state fair for 14 years. Now that claim to fame is validated with the world record, said Franci Havemeister, a Palmer resident and director for the state Division of Agriculture.

“We’re very proud,” she said. “We can grow it bigger and better. I think Alaska has a lot of untapped potential we need to get tapped.”

Some of the potential may be molded by Thomas and Anna Van Diest, a young brother and sister team that produced a 64.7-pound cabbage to place third.

Although they envision growing giants like Robb and Hubacek one day, Thomas had more immediate plans for his prize-winner.

“It’ll taste really good fried,” he said.

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.

Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off

Final results

Name Weight Prize

Steve Hubacek 127 lbs. $2,000

Scott Robb 88.5 $1,000

Van Diest 64.7 $500

Lauren Guinotte 61.7 $50

Elysha Menefee* 61.3 $250

Brenna Dinkel 55.1 $50

Carol Kenley 53.1 $50

Shiley Berberich 53.2 $50

Victoria Armistead 52 $50

Robert Thom 44 $50

Meyer Family 43.7 $50

Jarve Murphy 41.7 $50

Joanna Kastar 36.7 $50

Ronnie Olson* 35.8 $150

Aurora Newkirk* 34.2 $100

Susan Reed 33.5 $50

Sandra Shaginoff 30 $50

Kathy Glaser 26 $50

Quillan Jacobson 25.4 $50

Mark Mikhaylyuk* 20.6 $50

Rosalyn Singleton 18.9 $50

Talis Colberg 18.5 $0

*Denotes Junior Division winners

MAKES A MOUNTAIN OF CABBAGE ROLLS

Steve Hubacek’s world-record 127-pound cabbage could feed a large crowd. Using Chef Emeril Lagasse’s recipe found on FoodNetwork.com, an ambitious cook could make about 540 cabbage rolls from the giant. The recipe conservatively extrapolates from an average 3.5-pound head of cabbage that would yield 15 rolls.

• 72 teaspoons butter

• 72 cups chopped yellow onions

• 108 teaspoons minced garlic

• 36 28-ounce cans choppe tomatoes in juice

• 36 cups chicken stock

• 36 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

• 1 127-pound head cabbage, cored and scaled in hot water until soft and easy to separate

• 72 teaspoons unsalted butter

• 54 pounds ground sirloin

• 18 pounds ground pork

• 54 cups par-boiled long-grain white rice

• 72 eggs, beaten slightly