Pike County celebrates 2023 Pig Days

PHINLEY ARMISTEAD, age 5, of Pittsfield, the winner of the Little Miss Piglet contest, that was held on Friday, July 7 at the Pike County Pig Days. The winner of the competition is decided by who has the longest pigtail braid, starting at the ear lobe. For this year’s contest, Armistead won with both of her braids being 14 inches long. Armistead is a daughter of Phillip and Kendyl Armistead of Pittsfield.

JOEL HARE, age 5, of Griggsville, who took home first place in the Little Mr. Pork Chop contest. This contest is judged by how the boys are dressed, their communication with the judges, and their willingness to answer simple questions. One such example would be what the color of a pig is or what a pig might eat. There were slated to be three contestants, but one was unable to attend. Hare is a son of Christina Majthoub of Griggsville.

OAKLEY JOHNSON (front) and her dad Pete Johnson (back) walk back to the sidewalk after completing the fireman challenge game. The goal of this game was to wear rubber boots while putting on a vest and hat, before dumping three scoops of water into a bucket. Oakley and her brother, Cash, would finish first and second in their age group. Johnson is a daughter of Pete and Katelin Johnson of Pittsfield.

WILL BECK (l) and WES BECK (r), ages 5, scramble through the fireman’s run. Of all the competitions that took place, this might have been the fiercest, with neither of the twin brothers wanting to lose to the other. The pair would finish first and second in their age group with Will slightly edging out Wes by a little over three seconds. Will and Wes are sons of Nick and Casey Beck of Pittsfield.

PAISLEY HILL (l), age 10, and GRACIE McALLISTER (r), age 8, attempt to put on their vest during the first leg of the fireman’s game. Both girls would finish first in their age division, with Hill having the fastest time of anybody who participated. Hill is a daughter of Tyler and Emily Hill of Pittsfield. McAllister is a daughter of Keaton and Jamie McAllister of Pittsfield.

The second game of the day focused on the kids searching around in a pile of hay for dimes and nickels. To keep it a little under control, the kids were split into four different age groups. The younger kids searched through the top of the hay, while the older kids got smart and immediately dug to the bottom. In total, $100 in dimes and nickels were put in the hay for the kids to dig through and find. At the end, a penny was tossed in and whoever found it was able to trade the penny in for a dollar bill.

For the final game of the day, the kids grabbed a partner and participated in a water balloon contest. Sharon Springer and her helpers prepared over 400 water balloons for the kids to toss back and forth. After only a couple of throws, the kids began to lose grip of the balloons with as they got slippery. By the end, it turned into a water balloon fight with kids chasing each other around, launching the balloons.