Dixon May Fair Hogcalling Contest to Gear Into Four-Squeal Drive

Courtney Curtis of Vacaville tried this technique at last year's Dixon May Fair Hogcalling Contest: lying down to call the hogs. This year's event, the eighth annual, begins at 2:30 p.m., Friday, May 7 in the newly erected hog barn.  (Photo by Marilyn Sexton)

DIXON—It’s time to get the hogs into “four-squeal drive” or “hamward bound.”

The eighth annual Dixon May Fair’s Hogcalling Contest is set for 2:30 p.m., Friday, May 7 in the newly erected hog barn.

The contest, sponsored by Friends of Dixon May Fair, involves a microphone, two hogs and a hogcaller, said emcee Donnie Huffman, president of the Friends of the Dixon May Fair and a former 4-H swine leader. “The porkers are athletes that don’t pull any hamstrings,” he said.

Each contestant had one minute to "bring home the bacon." The event, billed as "a swine time at the fair," is judged on creativity, originality, audience response and hog response.  Age groups are 3-5: 6-13, 14-17 (or still in high school) and adults, 18 and over. Registration will begin at 2 p.m. There is no entry fee, in the first-come, first-served competition.

The upper age groups will receive concert tickets and the two younger age groups, carnival tickets, plus other prizes.

“Hamtown hero” Nick Stacey of Dixon, the most consistent winner, won the adult division for four consecutive years, but last year Tina Gulseth of Winters took the title away.  “Soo-ee!” Gulseth called. “Come here! Mustard and ketchup!”

Hogcalling over the past seven years has ranged from snorting, oinking and flopping down in the sawdust (to get their attention) to plaintive calls of "Soo-eey" and "Here, piggy, piggy," and “Here, Bacon Bits."

The two hogs will come from the Greg and Shaun Pryor barn in Dixon. Their teenage daughters, Karli and Katelyn, members of the Maine Prairie 4-H Club, have raised supreme champion hogs at the fair and “now we have a niece and nephew entering hogs in the fair, too,” said Shaun.

Judges will be Richard Byrum of Fairfield, vice president of Butler Amusements and a former president of the Michigan State FFA chapter; Mary Harris of Vacaville and Hendrick Crowell of Fairfield, both members of the fair board of directors; and JoAn Giannoni of Dixon, secretary of Friends of Dixon May Fair.

Among the contestants will be members of the Dixon May Fair Royalty Court competition (all royalty court competitors are equestrians but the youths also know how to call a hog).

Last year’s first place winners:

Ages 3-5: 1st Tommy Yost, 5.
Ages 6-13: 1st, Kylie Walker, Fairfield
Ages 14-17: 1st, Annaley Herzog, 15, Vacaville
Adults: 1st, Tina Gulseth, Winters

The Dixon May Fair opens a four-day run on Thursday, May 6, ending on Mother’s Day. The grounds are located at 655 S. First St., Dixon.

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