Greased watermelons to replace piglets in California fair event

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Greased watermelons to replace piglets in California fair event

Steven Adams | Tuesday, July 23, 2019 2:17 p.m.

The decades-long tradition of children chasing piglets at the Sonoma County Fair is coming to an end.

The the 83-year-old county fair’s Farmers Day in Santa Rosa, Calif., will no longer feature the pig scramble, an event featuring scores of kids ages 5 to 10 chasing freshly weaned piglets, reports The Press Democrat.

This year’s fair, on Aug. 4, replaces the porcine pursuit with 20 kids trying to tote vegetable oil-coated watermelons through an obstacle course as quickly as they can, The Press Democrat reports.

The fair board cited rising public concern over animal welfare as the reason for the change at a fair that has recently seen declining attendance.

President Rob Muelrath told The Press Democrat the decision reflected a “heightened awareness” toward calls for humane treatment of farm animals.

Read more details at The Press Democrat.

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