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The Oldest Event of Hog Days!
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The Hog Capital Barrow Show was the first event ever held back in 1947 when Kewanee and Henry County were declared Hog Capital of the World by the United States Department of Agriculture. In 1947, September 20th to be exact, there are accounts of a one-day celebration in Kewanee involving a showing of the best pigs with a dance held later that evening where the grand champion pig was exhibited and crowned "King Hog." (For more, go to our History page) With only a two year absence at the start of the 1950s, the barrow show has been going strong ever since. |
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11 year old Lucas Wisnefski of
Wyoming, IL, shown at left receiving his trophy from 2009 Miss World
Festival Queen Carrie Horsley, took top "King Hog" honors at the
show with his 271 pound crossbred. Wisnefski is the son of
Jeff and Laurie Wisnefski.
15 year old Bryce Walters of Tampico, IL won the reserve grand champion title. Bill LeSage, shown at right, was honored for the many years he has taken on the responsibility of organizing the show. LeSage retired from that duty at the end of 2008. |
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Since 2004, the Black Hawk East Foundation has sponsored a "Celebrity Showmanship" competition as a part of the barrow show. Local "personalities" get the chance to show they don't know the first thing about herding hogs! For 2009, it was the "Showdown of the Towns" as local mayors and one police chief from five communities in Henry County battled it out while all us country folk laughed! Annawan Police Chief Tim Wise won by herding a barrow named "Garbage" through the ring. Garbage not only helped Wise win but also chewed up two pylons (now you know how Garbage got his name!) Others participating in the Celebrity Showmanship competition were Mayors Bruce Tossell of Kewanee; Tom Hartman of Galva; Richard Collins of Toulon; and Adam Wilson of Bradford. |
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