Muddy Pigs at the County Fair

By PR Extension Office

During the Fair, the only place there was mud in the county during the last month was at the Powder River County Fairgrounds in the muddy pig wrestling pit...and it was manufactured by Christine Appleman. Christine, Craig and Clark Appleman were instrumental in creating a crowd-pleasing popular event at the Fair. They joined forces with John and Jennie Olson to produce a "crop" of the right sized porkers for each age division. Add announcer Charlee Kuhbacher's encouraging words "catch that pig!" and Garrett Cunningham flagging the event with mom Heather timing and the splashing began.

Four teams participated in the PeeWee Division. "The Rascals" consisting of Paisley Harper, Dolly Randall and Denver Kuhbacher won with a time of 45.59. "The Pig Princesses", Sophie and Sawyer Ostendorf and Stella Zander had a second-place time of 46.03. "The Navy Squeals", Senra Gnerer, Myla Gatlin and Trey Harmon placed third and the "Little Franks" finished the division with member Riley and Sadie Rumph and Frank Schoonover.

They received gift bags sponsored by the PRCF.

Ten teams competed in the Pre-Teen Division with "The Three Amigos" from over the border in Campbell County, Wyoming including Presley Williams, Whitney Tarver and Wade Reno winning with a smoking 11.91 seconds, the fastest time of all the divisions! Less than two seconds off that time was the "Party Pigs", Aubrey and Mason Hodgskiss and Chas Gaskill with a 13.41 time. In third place was "Raggedy Hams" Brock Gali, Bonita Kinzer and Kordell Schonenbach. Other pre-teen teams included the "Free Range Children" Emelyn Harper, Addison Randall and Kade VerWolf; "The Porklets" Addison Harper, Kinzi Randall and Braydn Stoddard-Terrill; "The Hampires" Griffin Gardner, Grady and Kaley Rumph; "The Hog Hunters" Steeley Williams, Mesa Fleming and Mason Stephens; "The 3 Little Pigs" Rickee Bilbrey, Cole Draine and Mikayla Capp; "The Hogglers" Ava Landa, Michael Stephens and Laney Williams and the "Bacon Brutes" Danica Schroeder and Logan and Lucas Capp.

The Teen division boasted six teams with "Wilbur Wrestlers", Shyla and Ashton Madsen and Farrah Gaskill winning with a time of 13.69. Second place went to the "Sausage Squad", Jaxon Bilbrey and Riggin and Zeason Schaffer with a time of 21.19. Other teams include the "Shortys", Johnathon Wood, Lyza McMullan and Justin Aye; the "Pork Chop Wranglers", Landen Capp, Abi Krantz and Rheanna Schroeder; "Space Hog n Jam", Gracie Gali, Baylor Kuhbacher and Darren VerWolf; and "Sow Cute", Kendal Stanley, Shaylee Bilbrey and Jayce Schroeder.

In the "adult" division, four teams competed for the winner's circle aka "pig in the tub". The "Pork Rumphs", Alex, Evan and Jessica Rumph had the best time at 16.84 seconds. Second place went to "IoWyoBraska", Jay Schroeder, Delcy Bayles and Randa May with a time of 20.82. Rounding out the competition was the "Hog Hippies", Kelly and Stacie Ostendorf and Alyssa Zander; and "Let's Get Pigsical", Kacey Stanley, Marlee and Jiggs Bilbrey. Their team was the best dressed team, winning first place in the costume contest. The Teen "Sausage Squad" had the second-place costumes and "The Three Amigos" placed third.

Sponsors for the event included Lee and Missy Randall, Coolahan Builders, Doug and Sandy Slovek, Music Boosters, Gali Ranch, Treasure State BBQ and Gnerer Angus. Special thanks to the Broadus Volunteer Fire Department for providing a "quick wash" for all the participants and to APEX for sucking the pit dry following the event.