Published: June 13, 2007 10:38 pm      

Oh, you swine!

By Janelle Stecklein

Herald-Banner Staff

Monica Williams sat proudly on a fence showing off Slinky to everyone Wednesday night, while her sister, Melanie stood nearby showing off Piranha.

"She used to bite a lot," said Melanie Williams, 16, of Lone Oak of her Piranha. "Now she's really gentle."

Slinky received her name because she would bend her back looking like a slinky, said Slinky's owner, Monica Williams, 10, also of Lone Oak.

Piranha and Slinky were just two of the 67 swine showing in the Hunt County Fair's annual competition.

Victoria Smith, 12, of Boles, had a different strategy when choosing her swine's name though, which is Zoie.

"I was bored one day so I just picked the name," she said, saying she had initially hoped for a male market pig so she could name him Wilber after the movie Charlotte's Web.

But, unlike Wilber, Zoie could be destined for the dinner table.

"We're either going to eat her, or we're going to sell her," Smith said.

Johnathan Stubbs, 11, of Greenville, said he did not name the pig he entered because when he was younger he used to cry when he had to sell his market pigs to a butcher.

Joshua McCaslin, 15, of Celeste, who has entered the competition for the first time this year, has a similar belief and did not name his pig.

"I don't want to get too attached," he said, saying he will probably sell his pig.

But, most kids entering the competition seemed to have names for their market pigs.

Garrett Mills, 14, of Campbell, named his pig Arnold.

"He just looked like an Arnold," he said when asked to explain why he selected the name. He said his step-father helped select the name and was influenced by the show Green Acres.

Garrett Jackson, 11, of Commerce, named his pig Brutus.

"I just chose a name," he said,

He said naming his pig will not make it too hard to part with.

"I just really don't have feelings," he explained.

Ryan Driggers, 8, of Greenville, said his horse Suzy was the inspiration for his pig's name, Lucy.

He said it would not be too sad to see his pig go.

"I'll get a picture."

Posted by Janelle Stecklein