At what kind of event can you find pumpkin carving, a pumpkin pie eating contest and pumpkin shot put all in one place? The answer is Lambda Chi Alpha’s annual Pumpkin Bust, which was held Saturday.

The five competing teams were Sigma Tau Gamma, Sigma Pi, Alpha Sigma Tau, Alpha Sigma Alpha and Gamma Phi Beta. The goal of the Pumpkin Bust contest was to have the most cans at the end of the day and gain the title of “Pumpkin Bust Champs.” Teams brought in cans to donate and then went through the four different events in order to gain more cans. All proceeds go to the North American Food Drive.

Alpha Sigma Alpha took home the title of Pumpkin Bust Champs, bringing in just a little less than 1,400 cans.

Junior social work major Ashley Lind has been in Alpha Sigma Alpha for four years, and this is her third time participating in the Pumpkin Bust.

“Alpha Sigma Alpha has won Pumpkin Bust the past three years, so we were determined to keep our crown and receive the Golden Pumpkin once again,” Lind said. “And with it being for a great cause, it just made it even easier for us to want to help.”

Freshman Drew Tolbert, a member of Sigma Pi, said this was his first year participating in the Pumpkin Bust. 

“(My favorite part was) busting the pumpkins with my fraternity,” Tolbert said.

He said he plans to come next year, as well. 

“Turnout was a lot better than previous years and we think this can be attributed to it being a one-day event instead of a week’s worth of events,” said Ian Savage, Lambda Chi Alpha’s vice president of external affairs.

Lambda Chi Alpha continues to accept can donations, which can be taken to the Lambda Chi house on campus. Currently the total sits at more than 2,500 cans, with all proceeds going to the North American Food Drive.

The first event was the Pumpkin Bust duathlon. Runners from each team began at a starting line and ran towards the woods, heading south where another teammate was waiting at the Broadway Sports Complex with a bike, ready to switch off.

For the men, first place was awarded to Sigma Tau Gamma and in second was Sigma Pi. For the women, first place was awarded to Alpha Sigma Tau, with Alpha Sigma Alpha coming in second.

The next event was the pumpkin pie eating contest.  A person from each team was picked to eat an entire pumpkin pie, crust and all.

For the men, first place was given to Sigma Tau Gamma and second went to Sigma Pi. For the women, first place was given to Gamma Phi Beta, second to Alpha Sigma Alpha, and third to Alpha Sigma Tau.

The third event was the pumpkin carving contest. Teams were given 30 minutes to decorate and carve their own pumpkin. No pre-drawn templates were allowed and teams supplied their own tools and materials.

First place for the men was awarded to Sigma Tau Gamma and second place was given to Sigma Pi. First place for the women was awarded to Alpha Sigma Alpha, second to Gamma Phi Beta, and third to Alpha Sigma Tau.

The final event was pumpkin shot put. A member from each team was given a small pumpkin to throw as far as he or she could.

Coming in first for the men was Sigma Tau Gamma, reaching a distance of 63 feet, and in second was Sigma Pi. Gamma Phi Beta came in first for the women with a distance of 37 feet, with Alpha Sigma Tau in second and Alpha Sigma Alpha in third.