Jones, staff have a swine time at NRCS luncheon

PALMER — Bob Jones was pleased to pucker up for the pretty porker.

Jones, state conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Palmer office, challenged staff to raise more than $5,000 during its annual giving campaign. If staff could beat the goal, Jones pledged to kiss a pig.

Thursday was payday for Jones, who was good-natured about kissing Bacon, a fine swine belonging to Al Hummel of Chugiak. The NRCS official even wore a white shirt and tie for the occasion because, “I want the pig to like me.”

Not only did the local NRCS office meet Jones’ goal of $5,000 raised through the Combined Federal Campaign, where employees can choose to have funds deducted from their paychecks and forwarded to charities of their choosing, they shattered it with more than $11,000 raised. Employees last year gave $3,950 for the CFC fund.

Perhaps his impending date with Bacon was motivating for staff, Jones said, adding he was pleased to pay up and proud of how his staff rose to the challenge.

“This is all for a very good cause,” he said. “If the pig can stand it, I can stand it.”

With photographers and video cameras running, Jones actually smooched Hummel’s excellent pig five times, each a quick peck on the head.

“I’ve been keeping some ChapStick on,” he said. “I didn’t want chapped lips when the time came. I usually like pig barbecued. This will be the first one I actually tasted fresh.”

Following watching their boss kiss a pig, staff at the NRCS office retired to the front hallway to pelt NRCS soil scientist Mark Clark with pies.

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2268.