Pig races were new to the midway this year at the Hancock County 4-H Fair. Small pigs raced against each other in an obstacle course for the grand prize of an Oreo cookie.
Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
HANCOCK COUNTY — With the lifting of the metal start-finish line, tiny pig Harry Porker took off like a shot out of a cannon. And why not? The first pig to circle round the tiny track and make its way back to the start-finish line not only grabbed bragging rights among the little piggies, but got to gobble up an Oreo cookie for the effort.
While it’s true pigs can’t fly, they certainly can race.
For the first time ever, and to the delight of the standing crowd around the tiny pig track, officials with the Hancock County 4-H Fair have a pig revue event with races throughout each day of this year’s fair.
“Who doesn’t want to see a pig race,” Chad Heugel asked with a laugh.
Heugel and his family recently moved to Hancock County from Marion County and noted it was fun attending the local 4-H fair to see events the whole family wanted to check out, like the pig races.
The “All-Star Barnyard Review,” a show out of Florida, set up their pig races and goat petting zoo right behind the midway section of the 4-H Fair, near Apple Street, and attracted plenty of spectators for each of the races put on daily.
Sierra Timberlake, 18, Tampa Bay, said she, her mother, Unity Timberlake, and father, Mel Timberlake, are seventh- and eighth-generation circus members who have been out on the road their whole lives. They travel the United States to join in on state and county fairs where they entertain the masses with the fun events, such as the pig races.
“A lot of people have no idea how fast pigs can run and it surprises them,” Sierra said. “The baby pigs race around the track. They’re trained jump hurdles, and we get the crowd involved, picking a cheerleader, and if their pig wins, they get a little badge.”
Mel, who called himself the “swine master of ceremonies,” told the crowd he earned a masters degree in hamology and that he and the crowd were set for a jolly good time as the family put on three different baby pig races with four pigs per race.
The first four pigs racing were from across the pond — England, Mel said from a special place called “Hogwarts.” The race included pigs with names like Harry Porker, Hogmighty Granger, Ron Squealsley and Hogrid. To the crowds delight, Harry Porker was the star of the show and munched down the Oreo cookie after he crossed the finish line first.
“They love cookies almost as much as I do,” Mel said.
The second pig race took more of a Hollywood theme with all the pigs named after Star Wars characters, such as Ham-Solo, Chew-Bacon, Pork-Skywalker and Darth Porker.
“May the pork be with you,” Mel said.
Mark Wheeler, Greenfield, brought his daughter Brinley to watch the pigs races. She was ready to see the show and even had a plastic pig nose over her real nose while cheering the pigs on.
“I think something like this is pretty neat,” Wheeler said. “This is the first time I’ve seen them bring something fun like this to the fair for sure.”
Following the races, Unity put on an animal agility show and patrons had a chance to visit the nearby petting zoo to touch and feed the animals.
Bringing in new events like the pig races was just another fun way to get the crowds to appreciate the animals that are a part of everyday farm life, fair organizers say.
“We were excited to bring something new like the pig races to the fair this year,” said board fair member Barb Pescitelli. “It’s something new and fun and they’re a new vendor for us.”
Pescitelli said that when the board starts planning for the fair each year, they always look to bring in things people will want to see, and pig races seemed like a great idea.
“The family that puts on the show really do a great job and are good to the animals and that’s what we like to see,” Pescitelli said.
