Ray's hobby of pumpkin sculpting was brought to an entirely new level when he was contacted by High Noon Entertainment and asked to participate in the Food Network's Challenge Show for Extreme Pumpkins in 2007. Ray competed against 3 other professional pumpkin sculptors and swept all three rounds taking home the grand prize. After realizing that the pumpkin show had the highest ratings of any other Challenge Show, the Food Network contacted Ray again in 2009 to come back to the show and defend his title. The first show, which aired in 2008, opened yet another door for Ray to expand his talents.