‘I love piggies,’ scramble winner says

OXFORD – Seven-year-old Alyssa Beam of Oxford was the first one to have her name drawn Thursday evening for the Oxford County Fair pig scramble for 6- and 7-year-olds.

It took her about 40 seconds to bag a piglet.

“I love piggies!” she yelled as her mother, Sarah Green, laughed.

Beam said she has a rabbit named Mr. Pepper and an American bulldog named Kenzie.

“I’ve always wanted a pig,” she said.

Green said they would keep the piglet in Mr. Pepper’s pen.

“We’ll have to relocate the bunny to a new pen,” she said.

Beam was among dozens of children who entered their names in the scramble, but only 12 were lucky enough to have theirs drawn. Of those, only 10 in the Pulling Pavilion would walk away with a piglet.

Ten minutes before the scramble began, children began pouring into the Pulling Pavilion.

Lucas Fortier, 6, also of Oxford, was among them. His mother, Harley, said they have two pigs at home – Cutie Pie and Blackjack – and were hoping to add another one.

“He’s never done one of these before, so he’s excited,” Harley Fortier said.

Unfortunately, Fortier’s name was not called.

Those whose names were drawn lined up in front of the piglets, which were snorting and rooting through the dirt and mud. Each child was given a burlap sack.

Behind them, parents watched. Some filmed with their cellphones, while others yelled advice on how to bag a porker.

“Go for their rear leg, and don’t let go when they kick!” yelled one father.

When the signal was given to start, children sprinted forward, sending the pigs scattering in every direction, the audience laughed and cheered.

For the first 30 seconds, it was chaos: pigs squealed and snorted, kicking up clouds of dust as children tried to grab them.

About 40 seconds into the scramble, Beam caught the first piglet, and within five minutes, nine more walked away with one.

Beam said she was considering naming the little porker “Spotty,” though her mother had a different idea.

“How about Charlotte, like in ‘Charlotte’s Web?’” Green asked.

Beam thought for a moment, grinned and nodded.

Jackie Young, president of the Oxford County Agricultural Society, said the pig scramble is an annual event at the fair.

“This year, we had a very generous sponsor, and as a result, the kids who catch the pigs are allowed to take them home,” Young said. “That doesn’t happen every year.”

The piglets were provided by Sourground Farm in Sabattus, she said.

There will be two more pig scrambles: 5 p.m. Friday for 8- and 9-year-olds and noon Saturday for 6- and-7-year-olds.

Pig scramble winners were:

Alyssa Beam, Oxford;

Scarlett Quimi, Auburn;

Avery Morgan, Norway;

Dalton Skillings, Gray;

Bronson Stanley, Windham;

Wyatt Coombs, West Paris;

Carter Davis, Hebron;

Isaac Pray, Oxford;

Carter Squires, Lewiston;