Ag day brings out farmer in everyone

"Move, move, come on pig," yelled Anchorage resident Nathalie McGregory at this year's amateur pig herding contest at the Alaska State Fair. McGregory said her roommate, Karmen Fields, who had never been to a state fair before, talked her into participating in the contest.

"That was awesome," said McGregory as she exited the corral. "But that pig did not want to move!"

"Is there such thing as a professional pig herder?" joked Fields before the contest. "Let's go out and have a little fun!"

McGregory and Fields were only two of many fair attendees that took part in the activities during the fair's Alaska Grown Day. While a dozen or so tried their hand at amateur pig herding, around 50 fair-goers participated in the agricultural day events earlier that afternoon.

"It was fun, something different," said participant Julie Forsyth, who placed third in the potato slingshot-bowling contest. "This was one of the reasons that I chose to come today."

Contestants shelled peas, painted rocks, bowled with potatoes, tossed hay bails and threw musk-ox chips, competing for ribbons and a nod of approval toward their 'farming' skills. While all of the contests brought forth laughs and a good time, ag-day volunteer Michael Janecek said the hay bail toss was by far the highlight of the day.

"The star of the show was the guy who tossed [the hay bail] 44 feet," Janecek said. "That's the farthest I've ever known it to be thrown."

Jay Harrell of Hicks Creek first threw the bail of hay 31 feet to win the contest, but once the contest was over he threw it again; this time amazing the audience with the extra-long distance.

"I guess it was easier when the pressure was off," Janecek said.

While ag-day at the fair brought out the farmer in some otherwise city folk, Alaska Farm Borough Mat-Su Chapter president Robert Thom said the contests are only part of what ag-day is all about.

"Sure, we've got the hay bail toss and the potato croquet," Thom said. "[But] we're also selling Alaska Grown promotional items to raise funds for the marketing of Alaskan-grown products."

Martin Heintzman, who is working at the Bushes and Bunches booth at the fair this year, said ag-day promotes buying fresh Alaskan produce instead of produce from out of state.

"We sell out of a lot of produce," Heintzman said. "All day long people see Alaska Grown and know it's bigger, better and fresher."