Grove City pumpkin sculptor competing on Food Network show
GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) - A man from Grove City is competing on a show where contestants take pumpkin carving to a whole new level.
Brian "Tator" Edwards is competing on Food Network's Outrageous Pumpkins for its upcoming season, which is premiering Sunday. This season is an "All Stars" edition where 14 of the country's best pumpkin sculptors compete for the championship title and a $50,000 prize. This is Edwards' second appearance on the show. He first competed in season 3 and made it to the finale.
"This is not your normal pumpkin-carving show," Edwards said. "This is Outrageous Pumpkins All Stars. It was a little bit fun, a little bit crazy, a little bit exciting and a whole lot outrageous."
Edwards' hobby of pumpkin carving started when he was in culinary school in 2010, sculpting fruits and vegetables. Edwards started competing in college, where he became an apprentice to a judge who was also a certified sculptor. Edwards said he started learning and working with the judge and found his passion.
"I fell in love with it," Edwards said. "I haven't been able to do anything since."
When it comes to how long it takes to carve these immaculate pumpkin sculptures, Edwards said it can take anywhere from about an hour to 8 hours, depending on the design. Some of his favorites include a sculpture of the Bride of Frankenstein and giant insects.
"I did a giant 150-pound spider while I was on TV once," Edwards said. "It was floating in midair. ... That one, I was pretty proud of."
Some of Edwards' favorite carvings are also found on his arm. The sculptor has 8 pumpkins tattooed with faces and designs from his work.
"I decided to turn my body into a pumpkin patch," Edwards said. "Every time I get a new one I really like, I add to it."
On top of being a busy pumpkin-sculptor, Edwards and his business partner Tyler Armentrout own a food truck company called EdArm Food Truck Solutions, which manages The Naughty Lobstah, Sweet Tooth and The Forking Pierogi.
"It's a lot to handle between all of the food trucks, sculpting and I have three kids and a wife that have to also deal with all the craziness," Edwards said.
You can see Edwards and his pumpkin sculpting skills on Outrageous Pumpkins on at 10 p.m. Sunday on the Food Network.