Muddy Pig Wrestling at the County Fair

By PR Extension Office

"Nothing draws a crowd at the Fair quite like the muddy pig wrestling," noted one observer. The stands were full as the pig raising crew of John and Jennie Olson and Hattie and Jason Arithson unleased the beasts in the bentonite slick pit in front of the grandstands Thursday night of the Fair. Twenty teams consisting of three people in three divisions tried their best to capture the pig in the fastest time...which sometimes took longer than the allotted ninety seconds, resulting in a no time.

Sponsors for the event included Lazy JM Boutique, Coolahan Builders, Doug & Sandy Slovek, Music Boosters, Gali Ranch and Gnerer Angus. County Commissioner John Olson and Fair Board member Hattie Arithson worked hard to coordinate the event, providing small town entertainment at its best. Garrett Cunningham served as the judge; Heather Cunningham was the official timer and Charlee Kuhbacher emceed the event with her usual humor and wit.

The fastest team of the night was the "Pork Chops" consisting of Adie, Titus and Jack Larson with a time of 11.94 seconds, winning first in the Teen Division. They also won 1st in the Costume Contest with their "I Love Bacon" aprons and chef hats. Second place in the costume contest was "Kermit's Revenge" – Brock Gali, Braydn Stoddard-Terrill and Bonita Kinzer. Third in the costume contest were "The Clowns" consisting of Steeley Williams, Rickee Bilbrey and Cole Draine. The "Fancy Rednecks" – Addison Draine, Justin Aye, & Kayleigh Opstedahl's pig was caught in a time of 15.19 to place 2nd. The "Lady Squad" consisting of Shyla and Ashton Madsen (dressed for the occasion) and Aspen Krantz caught their pig in a time of 16.93 to place 3rd.

Other teams and contestants in the Teen Division were: "Bacon Bits" – Gracie Gali, Reuben Kinzer, Darren VerWolf; "Ankle Pickers" – Myla Gatlin, Sophie Ostendorf, Monty Goggins; "Small Town" – Kinzie Randall, Addison Harper, Colton Jones; "Powder River Pig Wrestlers" – Addi Randall, Em Harper, Kade VerWolf; "Pork Craft" – Maddie Brownfield, Michael Stephens, Mason Stephens; "Piganators" – Dax Wahl, Grady Rumph, Kaley Rumph; and the "Donky Yonky" – Macey Madsen, Jayce Schroeder, and Danica Schroeder.

Six teams competed in the PeeWee division with "The Breakfast Club" placing first. Team members included Thea Boman, Tizer Barnhart and Jesse Barnhart. The 2nd place team, "the Pig Whispers" consisted of Dolly Randall, Mesa Graff and Cort Fleming; 3rd "The Pig Posse" Griffin Gardner, Denver Kuhbacher and Paisley Harper; 4th "We're Just Here" Sadie and Riley Rumph and Frank Schoonover. Other teams who competed in the PeeWee division were "Ham Wars" Colton Mitchell, Reagan Boman and Layla Brownfield and "Flying Unicorn Pigs" Ali Rumph, Elena and Lincoln Ostendorf.

Only six adults were willing to wrestle a pig, creating the "Spurge Purgers" team consisting of Weed Supervisor Tammy Van Tine and Montana Conservation Corp interns Joe Paetsch and Caroline Pride and the "I'd Smoke That" team consisting of Elliott Barnhart, Tim and Joni Draine. The Spurge Purgers won the adult division with a time of 23.69.