GREENFIELD – It took almost two years, but Hillary finally won the big race.
And she got an Oreo for her efforts.
The victor was Hillary Rod-Ham Clinton and she mounted her win over Donald Trump-roast, Barack-of-ribs Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pig-losi in a Swifty Swine Productions pig race in front of dozens of supporters at the 2018 Franklin County Fair on Friday.
The pint-sized porkers are always a fan favorite and again this year make up part of an active schedule of family-friendly events at the fairgrounds.
Hendrik Swanepoel and his wife, Elouise, have run their unit of Swifty Swine Productions for eight years and are making their fourth appearance at the fair. Hendrik said Greenfield usually has a lively audience and he often recognizes returning onlookers.
“They just come to have a good time. And … to see everybody again, it’s just amazing, how they grow up every year,” he said before the 5 p.m. race. “It’s just amazing to see everybody and it’s a fun thing.”
Hendrik said the best part of the job is “to work with the animals and to meet new people every time.”
Each race consists of four hogs with clever names such as Kim Kardashing-Ham, Kevin Bacon and Obi-Wan Pig-Nosey. The animals race a lap around a track and the winner gets a coveted Oreo. Elouise designates from each section of the audience a youngster to serve as a cheerleader for one of the pigs and whoever’s pig wins gets a toy pig snout and a six-pack of Oreos.
A special swine named Swifty even swims in a rectangular pool to people’s delight.
Friday was the first Franklin County Fair for Westfield residents Karen and Chris Cusson, who made sure to stop by Swifty Swine Productions, which they had seen twice before at other fairs. After the races, their daughter, Alexis, and her friend, Emileigh Valliere, paid to have their “pigtures” taken with a piglet.
“I love them,” Emileigh said afterward.
The Westfield crew then traded in one set of cute animals for another, stopping by the Baby Barnyard after the pig races.
Most fair shows are sandwiched comfortably between one another, with the pigs coming after Mutts Gone Nuts and before Xpogo Productions on Friday afternoon.
More information and a schedule of events can be found at www.fcas.com or on the fair’s Facebook page.
Reach Domenic Poli at dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.