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Catch-a-Pig contest to see changes this year

Noelle Leavitt Riley
Moffat County youth chase after pigs at Moffat County Fairgrounds last year.
Courtesy Photo

Catch-a-Pig information:

Time: Intermission of the rodeo (rodeo starts at 6 p.m.

Date: Friday, Aug. 12

Place: Moffat County Fairground Arena

Cost: $5 per person to get into the arena (including kids)

The annual greasy Catch-a-Pig contest is on the roster for the 2016 Moffat County Fair, but it has some much-needed changes.

Last year, several participants who were over the age of 18 snuck into the arena, catching pigs and causing a ruckus for those who were trying to legitimately participate.

As a result, the Moffat County Fair Board opted to change the age requirements for the kiddos. This year, only children 14 and younger will be able to enter the contest, said board member Mardi Anson.



“We’re not going to get the big kids involved. They’re mean to the pigs and they’re mean to each other,” Anson said, noting that the event will now focus on the younger age group.

The muddy affair will take place at the intermission of the Ridin’ & Riggin’ Days rodeo on Friday, Aug. 12. The rodeo starts at 6 p.m.



The cost to get in the arena — even for the kids participating — will be $5.

The contest will be broken up into three age groups, with the 5- to 7-year-olds going first, the 8- to 10-year-olds going second and the 9- to 14-year-olds going last.

A total of 50 pigs will be up for grabs, which is an increase of 10 more pigs than last year. The pigs will weigh between 50 to 70 pounds, Anson said.

Last year, Moffat County High School FAA teacher Rick Murr sold the fair board dozens of pigs for the event, but this year, JB Chapman will provide the swine — free of charge, Anson said.

“JB is donating them this year,” she said. “He’s doing everything. He’s putting them out there.”

The pigs are put in pens and greased up with vegetable oil. The kids are lined up in the Moffat County Fairgrounds arena and told to have their backs facing the pig pens.

Moffat County Fair Board member Karl Huntsman releases the pigs, the kids turn around and chase after them.

Whoever grabs hold of a squealing pig gets to keep it, and that’s the prize from the contest.

“Watching the little kids go out there and run, and getting a picture of them, and seeing what they can snatch up is a lot of fun,” Huntsman said. “They give it everything they got. Some of them aren’t very big, and you know they just put everything into it. It’s just really, really a good project.”

Contact Noelle Leavitt Riley at 970-875-1790 or Contact Noelle Leavitt Riley at 970-875-1790 or nriley@CraigDailyPress.com or follow her on Twitter @noelleleavitt.Contact Noelle Leavitt Riley at 970-875-1790 or nriley@CraigDailyPress.com or follow her on Twitter @noelleleavitt.


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