Pigs ham it up during races at Oklahoma State Fair
BY CARLA HINTON
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Published: September 26, 2009
One could call Zach Johnson a ham and he would consider it a compliment.
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Swifty Swine racing pigs
→When: 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 3:30, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. today and Sunday.
→Where: Gordon Cooper Boulevard, State Fair Park.
→Cost: Free with state fair admission.
→Information: www.okstatefair.com.
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As the self-described "swine master” of Swifty Swine Racing Pigs, Johnson knew how to give a "squealing good time” Friday at the
Oklahoma State Fair.
The day’s first show drew about 200 people to the pig-racing stands set up on
Gordon Cooper Boulevard at State Fair Park.
Johnson told the crowd that the "power porkers” they came to see were motivated not by glory — but
Oreo cookies.
No matter, folks just wanted to see the little pigs race around the track.
First up were
Kevin Bacon,
David Hasselhog,
Brad Pig and
Simon Sowell. Then Hamma
Montana,
Sarah Jessica Porker,
Brittney Spareribs and
Lindsay Loham raced around the track toward their finish-line treat.
The third and last group included four pigs noticeably larger than the first two groups, which Johnson said were about 5 weeks old.
The bigger swine engaged in what Johnson called the "Battle of the
Big 12.” The hammy quartet represented local favorites like the
University of Oklahoma and
Oklahoma State University.
A pig wearing the
University of Texas Longhorns’ orange got a rather cool reception from the audience when he was introduced. The fourth touted
Texas A&M.
Children sitting in the stands cheered loudly when the swine wearing OU’s crimson and cream beat the others to win the Big 12 pig race.
Johnson, 38, said he liked that race because the audience seemed to get a lot of fun out of it.
"I usually have Shaquille O’Squeal or something like that, but we’re in football country,” he said. "Here, they like booing the Texas pig and rooting for the
Oklahoma pig.”
Brandi Rippee of
Oklahoma City said she and her children
Madison, 7, and Lacy, 6, had seen the racing pigs in previous years and the event was a "must see” this year.
"It’s fun,”
Madison Rippee said.
Norman resident Dallas Park brought her children, Lennon, 4, and Drew, 2, to the races.
"We stumbled upon it. They like animals — that’s their favorite thing,” Park said.
Johnson said he and his wife, Shannon, and their three daughters have been traveling across the country, showing the Swifty Swine Racing Pigs at fairs for about 12 years. He said this is his fifth year at the Oklahoma State Fair.
Johnson said he grew up around animals since his parents had traveling petting zoos. It seemed natural to put together a racing pig show, particularly since he couldn’t do
NASCAR, he said, tongue in cheek.
"We bring pig races to the public. It’s what we do,” he said. "It’s not something you can catch on TV. You see it at the fair once a year and what could be better than to bring some fun to the kids?”
After all, he said the Swifty Swine are "faster than a speeding sandwich.”
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