Owner Charlie Beam said training his domesticated six-month old pigs and pot-bellied pigs involves cookies.
Credit: Lynn Hulsey
Credit: Lynn Hulsey
“They race for Oreo cookies. They love Oreo cookies,” Beam said. “We train them to eat Oreo cookies and we let them out the gate and they start getting the cookies.”
In training the pigs first get cookie samples along the way as they go around the track. Once they get the hang of it, the cookies are only at the end.
The races last a few seconds and Beam races three sets of three pigs and then a final race with all nine.
“We say the winners get the cookies, the losers get the crumbs,” he said.
Each pig has a colorful collar and Beam randomly selects kids from the audience to pick which pig they think will win. Kids who pick winners in the first three races get a free large cup of food for the petting zoo Beam also operates at the fair and the final race winner gets a pony ride.
Credit: Lynn Hulsey
Credit: Lynn Hulsey
Four-year-old Brynn Redman was with her grandma, Shelbie Smith of Centerville, in the petting zoo feeding a white miniature horse. She was obviously delighted, but afterward said her favorite was petting the pot-bellied pig and her piglets.
The schedule for the first day of the 170th edition of the fair included a variety of animal showmanship competitions, the Cincinnati Circus, a performance by Gospel Explosion and truck/tractor pulls. And of course there were be the animal barns to visit, produce and pies to admire, rides and lots of fair food.
Judy Hill, 62, of Clayton said the funnel cakes are her favorite. For Robert Bunch, 62, of Troy, it is the corn dogs.
Jami Allen, 33, of Germantown said her favorite part of the fair are the livestock competitions.
“We show animals.” said Allen, 33, whose daughter Sienna Ferraro, 12, shows goats and chickens. “Good old fashioned fair fun. And it teaches the kids lots of responsibility.”
Among the scheduled events Monday are pig races and the circus, as well as an evening demolition derby and performance by the 70/75 Band.
HOW TO GO
What: Montgomery County Fair
When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Where: Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 645 Infirmary Road, Dayton
Details: The 170th installment of the Montgomery County Fair returns for a week of carnival food, rides, games, livestock programs, live performances and more.
Cost: $10, children younger than 6 admitted free with a paid adult. All day ride wristbands $25
More info: 937-224-1619 or montcofair.com
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