Coming up next on NewsDepth... A 13-year-old is growing massive pumpkins.

Mary tells us about a few of our state's top crops.

Discarded fishing lines pose a risk for sea turtles and Natalia celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with US.

NewsDepth is now.

From corn and soybeans to pumpkins of all sizes, harvest season is the result of months of hard work for farmers.

Hello everyone, I'm Gabriel Kramer.

Thank you for joining us.

In Massachusetts, a teen is gaining attention for his massive pumpkins on Martha's Vineyard.

13-year-old Harold Harris started the pumpkin from special giant pumpkin seeds indoors, then spent months caring for them with daily watering fertilizer, seaweed extract and drip irrigation.

Irrigation is a process of supplying water to grow a crop.

One of his pumpkins was growing an average of 27 pounds per day, and grew to 535 pounds.

Reporter Lisa Hughes talks to Harold about what it took to grow these giant pumpkins, and what he's planning to do with them for Halloween.

A pumpkin so big it needs a forklift to move it.

This is one of two massive gourds cultivated by 13-year-old Harold Harris, a summer journey that started last December.

For Christmas, my grandma got me some giant, giant pumpkin seeds, I think from like a 2,000 pound pumpkin or something.

In late April, Harold planted the seeds indoors.

He put them in the ground a few weeks later, and from there his project really grew.

Watered them, maybe gallon or two for each plant per day, and see seaweed extract once a week.

And grew.

End of July, early August I got got some pumpkins set on the vines.

There was one that was growing maybe 8 pounds per per day at that time, and the other one was growing maybe like four.

And grew.

Then the growth really picked up week or two after that.

One of them was growing like 27 pounds per day.

Harold's dedication and love of gardening made it all happen.

Riding his bike to the farm every day, adding plenty of fertilizer and using slow drip irrigation to water the pumpkins for hours.

That time I was giving them maybe 100 gallons per day.

Harold's parents say their son has a go big or go home mentality.

When he puts his mind to something and really focuses, he finds something that he loves and is passionate about.

This year it's been pumpkins.

When Harold learns, he learns deeply, and it's really incredible to see what he creates because it defies all our parental expectations.

We never know what's coming.

His smaller pumpkin weighed in at 340 pounds, and his greatest creation thus far has the island talking.

- How much does it way, buddy?

- 535 Now the teen has plans to make this Halloween extra special by carving his 500 pounder with a chisel.

Since the walls are pretty thick, I'm going to try to.

I might try to sculpt it into maybe a face or something.

And Harold's days in the garden are far from over.

Next year I think probably going to maybe shoot for 800.

Maybe enter it in a competition, I don't know.

Cool stuff, Harold.

Maybe I should carve something into my pumpkin too.

NewsHound's face?

What do you think?

Pumpkins aren't the only fall crop that requires hard work.

Apple growers are also putting science and strategy to work to produce a successful harvest.

Apple growers are reporting a strong crop this season, but producing quality apples requires careful pest management.

Instead of relying on broad pesticides, farmers now use targeted treatments and weather data to monitor pests and apply the right solution at the right time.

A pesticide is a category of products that help kill insects and other organisms that can be harmful to a crop.

Experts say these precision methods have helped reduce pesticide use while protecting apple crops.

Claire Jones takes us to an orchard in Vermont to learn how farmers are managing pests.

Nick Cowles has been growing apples and other fruits here at Shelburne Orchards his whole life.

My daughter now is also owner, and kind of bossing me around.

In prime picking season, there are as many people as there are apples in these fields, but there's just as many pests too.

Every insect seem like loves apples.

Up until a few decades ago, farmers used broad-spectrum pesticides and fungicides that killed pretty much everything around.

Now, with stricter regulations on pesticide use and more advanced technology, growers like Cowles use very specific chemicals that target one particular pest or fungus.

But for these modern chemicals to be effective, farmers have to be very meticulous.

If you're only going to spray once you get a spray the right day, you sprayed direct material.

Terrence Bradshaw runs UVM Integrated Pest Management, or IPM program.

Instead of just spraying for a pest, He says the new method looks at the whole system, where the plant is in its growth cycle, the pests life cycle, the pests own pest challenges and the weather conditions.

If it's too windy, we can't spray.

If it's raining.

It's not all new tech though.

There's still some old school methods at play.

We use these pheromone traps.

These traps don't lower pest populations like these codling moths, whose young are the classic worm in the apple.

But it does allow farmers and researchers to figure out how best to keep the populations under control.

And we can learn whether or not the moths are hatching, laying eggs, mating where they're at.

And then we can use a very specific tool to manage them at that exact moment.

There's a network of weather stations across the state managed by the IPM program, based on the data they collect.

They provide an insight into pest management, offering a guide to farmers on what sort of spraying to do and when.

That's allowed us to really scale back to the point where we're spraying half the fungicides we sprayed 30 years ago.

It's made it pest management, like working with a scalpel instead of a hammer.

A combination of tools at play to ensure you can get your fill of apple cider, pie, donuts, or whatever satisfies your fall sweet tooth.

Agriculture is a key part of Ohio's history and economy, dating back to Native Americans and early European settlers who grew crops like corn and beans.

Today, Ohio is a major producer of soybeans and corn used in food, animal feed, biofuels, and a lot more.

Mary Fecteau has this week's Know Ohio all about the industry.

Boy, is anyone else hungry?

It's getting close to lunchtime.

And thankfully, I've got lots of delicious options.

But do you ever think about your food?

I mean, really think about it.

Almost everything we eat was grown for us by a farmer.

And it's not just our food.

Sometimes farmers had a hand in the clothes on our back and the fuel in our tanks.

Maybe some of you live on or near a farm.

That wouldn't be too surprising, because guess what Ohio's number one industry is?

I hope you guessed farming because it's farming.

But when we talk about farming as an industry, we tend to call it agriculture.

That's just a fancy word for all the different types of farming, from raising animals to growing crops.

But farming is also one of Ohio's oldest professions.

Before Ohio even officially existed, the people who lived here made their living farming.

Ohio's Native Americans grew corn, beans, and all kinds of veggies like squash, sweet potatoes, and cabbage.

And the first European settlers in Ohio also took up the trade.

Before the 1800s, there was no Kroger or Giant Eagle.

If you wanted to eat something, you had to grow it yourself.

And that's exactly how the first Ohioans fed their families.

They raised wheat, corn, and other grain crops.

By 1849, Ohio produced more corn than any other state.

And that's still one of our top crops today.

But our number one crop is the soybean.

Soybeans and corn are number one and two because they're so versatile.

Even if you don't see these guys on your dinner plates, they can be used to feed animals or used to make biofuel sweeteners and cooking oils.

But we're coming up with new ways to use them every day, like in plastics and building materials.

If you've driven around our state, chances are you've seen one of these farms in action.

But sadly, the number of farms in our state is on the decline.

By the early 1900s, most Ohioans were living in urban areas.

And today, farmers as a group, are getting older and older.

Most farm owners in Ohio are over 65 years old.

And younger generations aren't embracing this way of life.

That's bad news for us because without farms, we have no local food source.

Because this way of life is slowly fading, the Ohio Department of Agriculture started honoring farms that have continued to operate.

The Century Farm program is meant to recognize the many contributions of family farms that have been around for over 100 years.

And we can do our part too.

A great way to support Ohio farmers is to head to a farmer's market.

There you can meet the farmers that grow your fruits and veggies and buy food directly from them.

My favorite thing to buy from my local farmers market is Ohio's official state fruit the tomato.

Sometimes it's fun for city folk like me to talk to farmers at the farmers market and maybe get some tips for my own sad, suffering garden.

It's a good thing Ohioans today don't need to grow their own food like they did hundreds of years ago.

With my black thumb of death, I probably starve.

Speaking of, lunchtime?

That looks delicious.

You're making me hungry.

Thank you, Mary.

That brings us to our write-to-us.

This week, we want you to research a crop grown in the state, and then tell us why this is a good place to grow it.

Think about how long your crop takes to grow, what weather conditions it needs, how much water and sunlight it requires, and how the state's climate and soil help it thrive.

Then explain why farmers choose to grow that crop here and how it benefits the local community.

Students can use our inbox form online at newsdepth.org to share their findings.

Agriculture surely is an important industry, one that's very important across Ohio.

Farmers have to be experts in all kinds of things like science, math, business, weather and technology.

And that isn't even considering that they need to know how to raise crops and care for livestock.

Recently, we caught up with a few students from Waterford High School who are members of the Future Farmers of America and recently won top honors and advance parliamentary procedure, which earned them this week's A+ award.

Students participating in parliamentary procedure competitions.

Are evaluated on their ability to conduct an orderly and efficient meeting using parliamentary procedure.

The team from Waterford earned a gold rating and advanced to the state championship for the 18th time in the last 22 years.

That is a remarkable run of excellence!

But these students do more than just run meetings.

Lanee told us that she gets to show livestock through FFA.

Her specialty is pigs.

She told us that she gets assessed on how she handles the animals and how they respond to her.

She could not be more grateful for the skills and opportunities FFA has provided for her.

Taylor told us that she focuses a lot of her work on studying soil.

She told us that not all soil is equal.

And just because a type of soil is good for planting crops and may not be good for building on top of.

I never knew that.

Kaylie also does a lot of work with soil types, and she told us that her experiences with FFA have helped her become a strong public speaker.

That's a great skill to have.

Even though I speak to you every week, I still get nervous.

Taylor told us that she really enjoys participating and all of the different competitions and learning new things.

She said that she really learned how to adapt to challenges because of the interesting things she's done in FFA.

Allison added that she really appreciates the team atmosphere in the club and that everyone has been very supportive.

McKenzie told us that the team atmosphere and the unique challenges really allow her to test their limits and take on new responsibilities.

This week's A+ award goes to the Waterford FFA Chapter's Advanced Parliamentary Procedure Team for their excellent performance and facing new challenges.

Keep up the great work!

Okay, on our last episode, we hiked along the Appalachian Mountains and kayaked down the Cuyahoga River and we asked you, what's your favorite outdoor activity?

Let's check out the results of the poll.

34% of you said you love to throw out your lines and go fishing.

24% of you said you love a good hike.

18% of you love to have a picnic.

I think I'm with you there.

14% of you said kayaking and 10% of you said mountain biking.

Those of you who said you love to fish might like this next story.

One 80-year-old woman from Rhode Island has left an impression on the fishing world.

Ginny has been reeling in seafood for 35 years, and has no intention of stopping anytime soon.

Sam Read reports.

Down the docks in Galilee, bright and early every morning, dozens hop aboard the Frances Fleet for a day of fishing, A couple of safety things first.

and fun.

We have a lot of local people, you know, they're repeat customers.

And then we have a lot of people that come down on vacation.

One person in particular may not look like the others aboard the boat.

She's unique And that's 80-year-old Ginny Reed, who is ready to reel typically twice a week.

I'm here today giving it my all, but tomorrow I'll be on my couch all day.

More than 35 years ago, she took her first fishing trip.

- Bite it, please.

- And was instantly hooked.

From that point on, it was like a monster was created.

For decades, she's become a familiar face.

I think you caught a seven-pounder every year, or over that.

And has made quite the name for herself.

I have developed being known as grandma.

In all seriousness, though, the East Providence native's skills are no joke.

She's caught a lot of fish over the years.

Striped bass.

Bluefish.

Codfish.

Tautog.

Fluke.

She's done it all.

Not only has she reeled in the respect of many men, but she can put some of them to shame too.

Being a woman, I am in a man's world without question.

Especially with her most recent catch.

It was a 30 inch fluke that weighed 10 pounds, and it happens to be the first double digit fluke fish that was caught in Point Judith.

Ginny says the secret is getting jiggy with it.

Come on, come on.

To her, it's not about the thrill of a big catch, but the experience on the water with people and staff.

They take care of me very well.

Aboard the boat.

She brought her grandson fishing when he was six years old or eight years old.

And now he's one of our number one captains.

While some days are more exciting than others.

I've also learned how to fish sitting down.

She makes every moment count, and though she doesn't eat her fish, friends are the lucky recipients once they've been cleaned and cut by boat staff.

For Ginny, at the age of 80, there's no scaling back.

She says you can find her out here for as long as possible.

It keeps me young.

It keeps me as agile as I can be.

It keeps me going.

That's a great way to stay healthy and spend time outdoors.

Thank you, Sam.

Another part of fishing is taking care of the environment and wildlife.

A zoo in Florida is trying to remind anglers what could happen with their discarded lines.

Rescuers have been treating sea turtles that were injured by discarded fishing gear.

This is heartbreaking.

The items speak for themselves.

Fishing line and hooks, all found inside a loggerhead turtle's digestive track.

A team of highly skilled professionals did all they could, but the turtle didn't make it.

The Brevard Zoo says most turtles are getting harmed right near fishing piers.

So unfortunatly, they do learn that fishing piers are a good source of food.

So they will frequent those fishing piers because there's lots of bait going into the water.

Shannon Gann has been with the Brevard County Zoo for ten years.

In that time, she's seen turtles come in every year in bad shape, needing help after chomping down on discarded fishing materials.

That crunch is the sound of hope for this loggerhead.

His medical team removed a fin tangled in fishing line, but they are optimistic he will return to the ocean in the coming days.

Each successful rescue keeps the zoo staff energized and focused.

We don't mean it to bring sadness.

We want it to bring awareness.

We have a rehabilitation facility specifically for sea turtles, and we're able to take these animals in, and we want to be able to if we can remove these items.

Fishing line can easily be placed in tubes like this one you see here.

Gann says if we all work together, fewer animals will suffer, helping the environment and the wondrous creatures who we share it with.

Oh, buoy.

I think NewsHound found a story for us today.

It's time for Petting Zoo.

What's up, NewsHound?

You're out fishing with your uncles?

That looks fun.

What story did you catch for us today?

Oh, you brought us a story about a rare two headed baby turtle?

I'm hooked.

According to the Cape Wildlife Center, the tiny two headed diamondback was brought to them for assessment after being discovered at a nesting site on Cape Cod.

The center says the teeny hatchling, which weighs roughly as much as a nickel, has a rare developmental anomaly called Bicephaly, where two independent and functional heads grow from a single body.

The center says they are monitoring the appetite, growth and behavior of this rare little one.

Or two.

To learn more about what marine wildlife officials have discovered about this tiny turtle, check out the full story on our website and YouTube channel.

Thank you, NewsHound.

Did you know that NewsHound is Mexican?

That's because his mom, the producer of NewsDepth, Natalia Garcia, is from Mexico.

Natalia worked on a special Sketchbook segment this week to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

It's a celebration for people in the United States with Hispanic backgrounds.

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15th through October 15th.

Take it away, Natalia.

September 15th through October 15th is Hispanic Heritage Month.

A time to celebrate the history, culture and contributions of people with roots in Spanish speaking countries.

Hispanic countries are places where Spanish is a primary language.

These include Mexico, where I'm from, most of the Central and South American countries, and parts of the Caribbean.

You may wonder why Hispanic Heritage Month begins in the middle of September instead of the first of the month.

That's because September 15th marks the independent anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Mexico celebrates Independence Day on September 16th.

The celebration is often called El Grito, which means the shout.

A commemorates the moment when Miguel Hidalgo called on the people of Mexico to begin their fight of independence from Spain.

Chile celebrates its independence on September 18th.

The celebration concludes on October 15th.

Shortly after October 12th, a day known as Dia de la Raza or Day of the Races, which recognizes the meeting and blending of different cultures throughout the Americas.

Throughout the month, people honor Hispanic cultures through music, food, art, literature, language, and community events.

From traditional dances to colorful festivals to favorite foods like tacos and tamales from Mexico, Pupusas from Salvador, Paella from Spain, from Venezuela and Colombia, or from Puerto Rico.

Arepas from Venezuela and Colombia, or Mofongo from Puerto Rico.

Here in Ohio, more than half a million people identify as Hispanic or Latino.

That makes up about 4.8% of the state's population, and that has grown in the last few decades.

The majority of Hispanic population in Ohio is from Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Loraine has the highest Hispanic population in Ohio, hispanics make up about 28% of residents.

And Painesville ranks as number two in the state, with 25% of its residents being Hispanic.

Together, these communities in Northeast Ohio are the state's largest Hispanic population, making the region very important for Hispanic culture and traditions.

Let's celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with learning about traditions, appreciate cultural diversity, and recognize the many contributions Hispanic communities have made in the state, in the United States and in the world.

Muchas Gracias, Natalia.

Our poll this week is all about Hispanic Heritage Month.

Which of these Hispanic dishes do you want to try?

Jump over to our poll page to vote.

You could choose between tacos, pupusas, paella, arepas or mofongo.

And this is a multiple choice question.

So select everything that you'd put on your plate.

Last week we visited a coffee shop in Michigan and well, that made us want to stop by a local coffee shop here in Cleveland.

We went to the Brasserie in Playhouse Square.

For this week's Career Callout, we're talking to James, the owner of this coffee shop, about what it takes to run a small business.

My name is James Orlando.

I am the owner of the Brasserie, Brass Moon Espresso, and the Bulkley bar.

We are in the Bulkley Building in Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland.

A fifth grader from Shaw Elementary in Beavercreek asks, What inspired you to create your own coffee shop?

Being a geek, I have been obsessed with coffee for most of my life.

It is an interest that I could never forget about like at all.

And over the years of being obsessed with coffee, it was a natural progression for me to open my own coffee shop.

A sixth grader from Independence Middle School in Independence wrote: Are there any parts in your job that are hard to manage?

Quite a few.

Getting everyone together as a leader to make sure they do their jobs accordingly is a lot of hard work, it's a lot of planning, it's a lot of patience.

A fifth grader from Pleasant Run Elementary in Cincinnati asks, how do you create and remember all your recipes?

The dullest pencil is better than the sharpest mind.

Write everything down.

Doesn't matter how big or how small.

Keep notes.

They don't even have to be organized.

Just keep them on paper.

How do we create recipes?

A lot of imagination and a lot of experimentation.

There isn't a week that goes by that I don't try something.

Favorite recipe?

The Spanish latte.

Spanish latte is house-made orange sugar, espresso, cinnamon and salted caramel.

In the right proportions, it creates this creamy but bright latte drink.

One of my favorites.

Another one is the German chocolate mocha.

It is pecan, coconut and dark chocolate And when done correctly, it creates a brand new flavor of chocolate most people never imagined.

A fifth grader from Kinsner Elementary in Strongsville wants to know, how early do you have to start your workday?

Very early.

When you own a coffee shop and you do bakery, people want coffee very early in the morning.

I usually start my day around 5 a.m.

some of my bakers start much earlier than that, as early, sometimes as 3 a.m.

A fifth grade student from Fairview Park asked, how do you make sure you always have the ingredients you need?

In any restaurant, that is a very, very hard task.

How I make sure I have all the ingredients I need?

I worry about it 24/7.

I also take notes.

Like I said, the the dullest pencil, the sharper than the sharpest mind.

Always take notes.

Always write things down.

You can go back and look at it at any given time.

A 5th grader from Silver Lake Elementary School in Silver Lake wrote, How much money do you need to start a coffee shop?

That's also a wide range of numbers.

I have a very little coffee shop down the street.

I have a bigger one here.

I would say the minimum that you would need to open up a coffee shop would be about $30,000.

And again, that changes with your location and your equipment and all the stuff that you need to do it.

A fifth grade student from Meadowlawn Intermediate in Sandusky wrote, What did you have to know before opening your coffee shop?

I really went to open up a coffee shop called Sunny's Delight.

First of all, it's a wonderful name and I like your creativity.

You need to have a very confident grasp on what it means to be a barista.

A barista is something that makes coffee, sure, but it's also somebody that plays with the flavor.

They create, they invent, they think quick on their feet, and they have good hand-eye coordination.

Those are the essentials that you need to start your journey if that's what you want.

Special thanks to James for answering our questions.

And that's a wrap for this episode of NewsDepth.

But let's keep the conversation going because we always like to hear from you, and there are plenty of ways for you to stay in touch with us.

You can write to us here at 1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, or ZIP code here is 44115.

You can email us at [email protected] Plus, you can catch all of our special segments on YouTube.

Hit subscribe if you're old enough so you don't miss out on any of our new videos.

Thank you for joining us.

I'm Gabriel Kramer.

See you next week.