St. Lucie County Fair pig races continue to please crowd year after year
By Kim Hughes TCPalm.com
March 5, 2011 .
ST. LUCIE COUNTY — The overcast skies and intermittent sprinkles didn't ham-per the pig races Saturday at the St. Lucie County Fair. The Show-Me Swine Racers, from the farm of Jay and Nicole Phillips in East Prairie, Mo., were tearing up the track.
Nathan Tidwell — "Pork Chop" on the pig racing circuit — said they've participated in this fair for "10 years or better."
He and a team of 14-15 pigs visit between 12-15 fairs each season, beginning in January and running through November.
At the St. Lucie County Fair, the pigs race twice a day on weekdays and four times a day on the weekends, with four to five pigs in three different heats.
Trained to come out of their trailer and head to their separate chutes, the pigs are given a number by Tidwell's partner, "Ham Bone," as they pass by.
The pigs aren't just racing for the run of it, Tidwell explained, but for what they'll get upon finishing: an iced oatmeal cookie.
"They're smart animals. It's pretty easy to train them. It takes about a week to get them 'crowd ready.' "
Enthusiastic participants from the audience are selected by Tidwell as "pig rooters" to cheer on a specific pig. The rooter whose pig wins gets a ribbon.
The crowd was appreciative of the humorous names Tidwell bestows upon each racer, such as Snoop Hoggy Hog, Hammah Montana and Shake 'N Bacon.
Edith Del Greco of Port St. Lucie stopped to watch the pig races because her mother, Renee Tatar, who was accompanying her, "loves this stuff."
Del Greco particularly enjoyed Tidwell's banter. "I like the commentator. He cracks me up. The names — they're just too much."
Tatar called the races "great, the tops."
For Melinda Schnackenberg of Fort Pierce, pig racing is a fair tradition. "We go every year. They're cute and funny."
Victor Fontanez of Port St. Lucie served as one of the pig rooters during the potbelly pig race. Although his pig didn't win, Fontanez, who brought his family, said it was fun.
"We like farm animals. We come every year. We love the St. Lucie County Fair."
Sunday is the fair's final day
Nathan Tidwell — "Pork Chop" on the pig racing circuit — said they've participated in this fair for "10 years or better."
He and a team of 14-15 pigs visit between 12-15 fairs each season, beginning in January and running through November.
At the St. Lucie County Fair, the pigs race twice a day on weekdays and four times a day on the weekends, with four to five pigs in three different heats.
Trained to come out of their trailer and head to their separate chutes, the pigs are given a number by Tidwell's partner, "Ham Bone," as they pass by.
The pigs aren't just racing for the run of it, Tidwell explained, but for what they'll get upon finishing: an iced oatmeal cookie.
"They're smart animals. It's pretty easy to train them. It takes about a week to get them 'crowd ready.' "
Enthusiastic participants from the audience are selected by Tidwell as "pig rooters" to cheer on a specific pig. The rooter whose pig wins gets a ribbon.
The crowd was appreciative of the humorous names Tidwell bestows upon each racer, such as Snoop Hoggy Hog, Hammah Montana and Shake 'N Bacon.
Edith Del Greco of Port St. Lucie stopped to watch the pig races because her mother, Renee Tatar, who was accompanying her, "loves this stuff."
Del Greco particularly enjoyed Tidwell's banter. "I like the commentator. He cracks me up. The names — they're just too much."
Tatar called the races "great, the tops."
For Melinda Schnackenberg of Fort Pierce, pig racing is a fair tradition. "We go every year. They're cute and funny."
Victor Fontanez of Port St. Lucie served as one of the pig rooters during the potbelly pig race. Although his pig didn't win, Fontanez, who brought his family, said it was fun.
"We like farm animals. We come every year. We love the St. Lucie County Fair."
Sunday is the fair's final day
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