Kosciusko Fair Goes Hog Wild For Pig Wrestling
KOSCIUSKO — For the first time, the Kosciusko County Community Fair held pig wresting as a grandstand event last night, July 12.
Fourteen teams stepped up to the plate to take on the challenge. Their goal was to pick up a pig, lift it up to touch a tire in the middle of the pit and then set the pig back down again. All of this needed completed within 45 seconds.
A referee was on hand to watch the clock and also make sure participants didn’t grab the pig’s tail or ears and did not put the pig on its side or back. Anyone team being aggressive or rough was warned of disqualification.
Referee and long-time pig farmer Kyle Bailey provided the teams with what he called the secret to win, “Slower is faster.”
Madison Jones was one of the many contestants. “It was definitely harder than I thought it would be. Those pigs are quick and heavy,” said Jones. “As far as the negative comments go, we weren’t hurting the pigs. They go through worse than people chasing them and picking them up for a second. There were rules so we wouldn’t hurt the pigs trying to pick them up. If anything, we got hurt out of the pig wrestling. They are a lot tougher than us.”
Pig wrestling was held as a way to make up for motorized racing revenue, which is what normally would take place as a grandstands event. The events saw a generous turn-out and charged $5 per person to watch.