By the Way

Cunningham Nominated for Pig of the Year Award

By Emory Jones

As you know, the Pig of the Year award is handed out on National Pig Day which happens every March 1st. I was afraid this year’s event might be canceled due to COVID, but apparently, it doesn’t affect hogs all that much. I checked two different funeral home calendars, and they both indicated the celebration is still on for 2021. Unfortunately, National Pig Day falls on a Monday this year. I hate it when that happens. So does my pet pig, Cunningham. Of course, he can’t tell Monday from Tuesday, but I still feel bad for him. The problem with National Pig Day falling on a Monday is all those big pig parties people throw the weekend before. After so much celebrating, many folks won’t show up for the serious events that make Pig Day special. Like the hog calling contest, for example. This year’s event could be momentous for Cunningham. You see, not only is a book called Cunningham and Other Pigs I Have Known coming out about him and some of his buddies, but he’s once again been nominated for the Pig of the Year award. That’s mostly because of his volunteer work in mud research.

I think Cunningham has a real shot this year. Mud is all the rage in Europe. Although winning the award would be nice and all, the pig is more excited about the book. So are his mama and several hundred cousins in the Midwest. And they should be. I mean, how many pigs have had books written about them? Other than Wilber in Charlotte’s Web and that unauthorized autobiography of Miss Piggy that came out last year, I can’t think of any. If Cunningham wins, they’ll present the award on the official holiday, most likely in Washington or Des Moines. They rotate it every year, weather permitting. National Pig Day is about those socials, pig parades and even feasting. In fact, many BBQ joints are open 24 hours straight just for the event. People celebrate all sorts of ways—even decorating their houses for it. I did that once. My wife, Judy, won’t let me do it again, though. But National Pig Day is about more than just having fun. It’s a time to reflect and think about pigs. Last year, I attended a lecture where a pigologist from Peoria explained how the United States is falling behind in the world pig race. Hopefully, the numbers have changed some, but he said China is in first place with 446,422,605 pigs. The United States comes in second with only 65,909,002. I’m pretty sure he counted them personally. Anyway, we have some catching up to do. This is a serious situation. Because our country once went to war over a pig. It was just a brief clash between us and England, but still…. It started in 1859 when an American shot and killed an English pig on a British-held island near Washington State. In the end, though, the pig was the only casualty.

But this year’s event will be even more impressive if my pig brings home the bacon by being named Pig of the Year. If he does, I’ll bet they make him Grand Marshal of Peoria’s Pulled Pork Parade. And if they do, who knows where that might lead?

While Cunningham and Other Pigs I have Known will not be available for Groundhog Day, it will be out in plenty of time for National Pig Day. Visit emoryjones.com (after February 15th) to order your copy.

Emory Jones grew up in Northeast Georgia’s White County. After a stint in the Air Force, he joined Gold Kist as publications manager. He was the Southeastern editor for Farm Journal Magazine and executive vice president at Freebarin & Company, an Atlanta-based advertising agency. He has written five books, with a sixth coming out this winter. Emory is known for his humor, love of history and all things Southern. He and his wife, Judy, live on Yonah Mountain near Cleveland, Georgia.

“I am rather inclined to silence, and whether that be wise or not, it is at least more unusual nowadays to find a man who can hold his tongue than to find one who cannot.” - Abraham Lincoln