Fortune Magazine once called Russ Leno one of the world's richest pumpkin carvers.

While working on a nearly 200-pound pumpkin at the Virginia State Fair yesterday, Leno chuckled at the title.

"How many pumpkin carvers do you know?" asked Leno, casually dressed in a pumpkin-orange polo shirt, orange Crocs and gray cargo shorts.

Leno was among dozens of entertainers and attractions at the state fair, which opened yesterday in Caroline County.

The 58-year-old bachelor from Everett, Wash., is a mechanical engineer by profession. He hesitantly admitted that carving pumpkins can make him more money in a week than he earns from his real job in a month. He spends $2,000 to $6,000 a year on pumpkins.

"I don't think twice about it," he said.

Leno plays oldies and classic rock on his iPod while sculpting, tapping his right foot to the beat. Before he chatted with onlookers, he took a swig of an energy drink. He says doing his artwork in front of people makes him more creative and gives him an added boost.

"I noticed if I sit here singing or dancing, the crowd joins in a little more," he said. "It's just another value to their entertainment, and I am not shy about it anymore."

Leno has professionally sculpted pumpkins for about 20 years. He started carving a pumpkin with his children on Halloween, and it flourished into a second job.

"I could take this to a different place than just triangle eyes," he said. "I thought at one time I was going to be a Disney artist."

He's been a guest judge on the Food Network, he has the network's record as the fastest carver, he sculpted the world's largest pumpkin at 1,262 pounds, and he's a two-time world champion in sand sculpting. He can carve just about anything, including wood and ice. He's even carved Spam.

"Each year I just carved a little bit more and ended up on TV shows, and now I even have an agent," he said.

One of his most memorable events was carving a pumpkin for Vice President Al Gore at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. He got a kick out of the number of Secret Service guards--or "Blues Brothers"--protecting Gore and watching every step and cut he made during his stay there.

"When you wash your hands, the paper napkins have the vice presidential seal on them. It was really crazy," he said. "It was really a cool event."

Leno said he gets the most compliments when he carves dragons.

He often stops his work and talks to people for a few minutes about women, beer and some stars he has met, such as Martha Stewart. He even did a magic trick with one teenager.

"People are thrilled over the smallest things," he said.

Leno will be at the fair through Saturday.

Fair organizers made several changes this year based on what visitors wanted to improve at the 10-day event.

There no longer is a $5 charge for parking, which moved cars through the gates more quickly.

"It was so easy getting into the fair this year," said Roland Lloyd.

There are more than 60 rides and games this time, and several new attractions including a motorcycle stunt show and an acrobatic dog act.

The fair will run for 10 more days, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturday.

masterpumpkinsculptor.com