Officials have second thoughts on hog wrestling at Indiana fair

MUNCIE – After a public outcry, Muncie and Delaware County officials are reconsidering hog wrestling as part of the county fair this year.

Those second thoughts also come from the director of the Muncie Animal Shelter, who participated in hog wrestling at the fair last year but said he never would again.

"It was a big mistake to do it," city shelter director Phil Peckinpaugh told The Star Press Monday.

Peckinpaugh's remorse is similar to that expressed Monday by two of the three county commissioners, who acknowledged concerns about hog wrestling but said finding a replacement event — and a replacement source of revenue — for the fair would be a challenge.

The comments followed a Monday story in The Star Press about an online petition at Change.org calling for an end to hog wrestling at the Delaware County Fair. This year's event is scheduled for the Friday grandstand event at the fair, which begins July 20.

The Star Press noted that people who signed the petition called the practice "barbaric" and "sadistic." While some Indiana residents signed the petition, many of those who signed were from outside the state or even the country.

Jane Lasater, longtime fair board officer and county council member, said she didn't believe hog wrestling constituted cruelty to animals.

On Monday, two county commissioners said they were having second thoughts about including hog wrestling.

"We're going to look into it further," Commissioner Shannon Henry told The Star Press. "I don't want people to look down on the Delaware County Fair. It's a fair for all the people."

Commissioner Sherry Riggin said that hog wrestling, like the high school band contest, demolition derby or rodeo, is "a fair board decision." The commissioners appoint fair board members.

"I'd like to take a stand for the pigs," added Riggin, whose family had a dairy business for decades. "We want to treat all animals with respect even though we do kill them to eat them.

"I wish we could get someone to make a nice $12,000 donation" to replace revenue from hog wrestling, Riggin added.

Henry said that even though hog wrestling was brought back to the fair only in recent years, attitudes have changed.

"Times are different for animals," Henry said. "People look at animals differently. We're going to look into it."

Peckinpaugh, who has been Muncie Animal Shelter director since 2012 and was an official at Animal Rescue Fund (ARF) before that, got an up-close look at hog wrestling during the 2014 fair. He was part of a hog-wrestling team that supported the election campaign of County Clerk Mike King. Peckinpaugh's wife, Melissa, had her own campaign hog-wrestling team.

"The pigs are definitely in distress," Phil Peckinpaugh said, although he added, "I never saw one that I thought would be hurt."

But Peckinpaugh said the event left him in agreement with some who signed the petition.

"I think it is barbaric, really," he said, adding, "I'm not saying anyone in it is barbaric.

"I'm really ashamed that I did it. I would actively support a ban."

Contact Keith Roysdon at 765-213-5828 and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.