FAIR: Dentist drills competition, grows biggest cabbage

Sept. 2, 2007

By Greg Johnson/Frontiersman

PALMER - Steve Hubacek has developed a big head.

The Wasilla dentist and relative newcomer to the popular Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off at the Alaska State Fair on Friday shredded his way to the 2007 title with his 87.7-pound cabbage. After placing third last year in his first weigh-off, Hubacek was hopeful to hold the title of Alaska's King of Cabbage.

&#8220This was the first year I was able to get these cabbages to head up well,” He said. &#8220It takes every bit of the 120 days [of the growing season leading up to the fair]. You gotta cheat Mother Nature. You got to get it out into the ground even if it's still freezing overnight.”

Hubacek edged out 2006 champion and perennial giant vegetable competitor Scott Robb, who was second this year with an 87-pound monster.

While much of the giant vegetable categories were flat this year - there were no giant pumpkin entries - there were a couple of record-breakers.

Dave Iles of North Pole registered a humungous world-record kale at 105.9 pounds, shattering the previous record of 58.6 pounds, which he also set at this year's fair.

Palmer-area grower Ron Castor set a state record with a 7.572-pound parsnip, also breaking his own previous state record.

For Hubacek's efforts, his cabbage earned him a little lettuce as well - $2,000 for first prize.

&#8220That all gets pumped back into the dirt,” he said. &#8220It was fun. I never expected it to be this close.”

That he's not a professional grower makes winning the Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off especially satisfying, Hubacek said.

&#8220That's why I take great pride in it,” he said, adding he'll be back to defend his title in 2008.

Contact Greg Johnson at 352-2268 or greg.johnson@frontiersman.com.

Serve it up

What can one do with an 87.7-pound cabbage? Make mountains of coleslaw. Calculating the ingredients for the Betty Crocker recipe for classic creamy coleslaw, here's how one could treat Hubacek's giant:

Giant Betty Crocker

Creamy Coleslaw

Feeds 263-351

Ingredient Amount

Mayonnaise 21.9 pounds

Sour Cream 11 pounds

Sugar 1.4 pounds

Lemon juice 1.8 pounds

Dijon mustard 1.8 pounds

Celery seed 7.2 ounces

Salt 3.6 ounces

Pepper 3.6 ounces

Cabbage 1 87.7-pound head

Carrots 22 pounds

Onion 11 pounds

Total 159 pounds 8 ounces

Source: Based on USDA reports of average vegetable size and recipe published at BettyCrocker.com