Pumpkin Chunkin festival launches in Vermont

STOWE, Vt. (NBC, KYMA) - Pumpkins, tomatoes and even a small rocket, everything was fair game for launching at the Pumpkin Chunkin Festival in Stowe on Sunday.

The 17th annual competition was held rain or shine, as Vermonters are encouraged to build their own trebuchets and get them ready for launch.

Jonathan Stapleton won the competition, launching his pumpkin over 800 feet past the field.

It's his fifth year taking home the top prize and his first with a new design.

"I've thrown a pumpkin with it, but it doesn't go as far and this is legal, the rules state it has the be one pound and float in water and this does both," said Stapleton.

Unfortunately, the rocket was actually eliminated after round two, but Stapleton hopes to eventually find a different type of produce that can go even further.