You probably won’t find professional pumpkin carving at a booth on career day. But for Mike Valladao, better known as “Farmer Mike,” carving pumpkins has become an unlikely second profession.

Farmer Mike started growing giant pumpkins 25 years ago on his Uncle’s land in Half Moon Bay, “Pumpkin Capital of the World.” He is now the official pumpkin carver of Half Moon Bay.

“Farmer Mike is my alter ego. It allows me to make people smile. It’s a kick,” says Mike who works for a software company during the week and lives in San Jose.

Mike carves with a buck knife and chisel and says it takes him 3 hours, on average, to carve a pumpkin.

Just over a year ago he published his book “Farmer Mike Grows Giant Pumpkins” which takes kids through the seasons from seed to harvest of giant pumpkins. But he says pumpkin loving is ageless.

“The pumpkin applies to a lot of ages. I think some of it is childhood memories. It’s a time when everyone gets to be creative and use imagination,” says Mike.

And, perhaps, the fruits of his labor also remind us of something else: That even the largest masterpieces start from a tiny seed.