The Pig Whisperer

Robert Redford portrayed a horse whisperer and Jennifer Love Hewitt plays a ghost whisperer, both in theatrical form. But after my day-long stay at the Minnesota State Fair last week, I have been dubbed the Pig Whisperer.

My aim, as an agriculture reporter, was to work in as many ag related booths as I could during one day. I started with the pork producers. At the association's Oink Booth in the Swine Building, fairgoers could see a sow and her litter. They were in an crate surrounded by a fence. The sides of the crate were enclosed in plexiglass so the crowd could see the antics of the little ones and get a good view of the little ones feeding.

The Minnesota Pork Producers' communications director Amy Brandel brought me into the pen and told me to pick up a little pig. The people like to touch the pigs, she said. And it's a great way to tell everyone about hogs and hog production.

My first little porker sat snugly in my arms. People patted its head and, when I told them how soft the tip of the snout was, they touched it and were amazed at the feel. When that little one started to grunt and wiggle, I put him down. All the pigs were gathered on mom's side trying to get her to lay on her side so they could eat. She wasn't having any of it and just laid still.

So I picked up another. Again the people came, young and old alike, to touch a pig. Pig's don't have sweat glands, I told the people. That's why farmers have sprinkler systems in their barns so they can cool off the hogs on hot days.

I mentioned other facts and the people asked questions.
Then the sow laid on her side and all the pigs started to feed, quite noisily too, I might add. I'd better put this little guy down, I thought. When I put him in the crate, he landed with a light thud and didn't move. He was asleep. I rubbed him to wake him up but it was the grunts of his siblings that caught his attention. He stood up, shook himself and went to momma to get his dinner.

It's been 30 years since I've worked with pigs and the experience was a sheer thrill for me. It was fun reconnecting with the industry and finding I still have the touch with livestock.

And to learn...I AM the pig whisperer!