Peanut Festival plays host to Calf and Greased Pig scrambles

Annalaura Watson had been kicked and nearly trampled by the calf, but there was no way she was letting go of the halter she had slipped around its neck.

“It felt like pulling a big ol’ truck,” she said.

In the end, Watson’s determination won out, and she pulled her calf across the finish line, the only female to win in the National Peanut Festival’s Calf Scramble.

The Ameris Arena was filled to nearly its 3,500-seat capacity for the event, a peanut festival favorite.

“A lot of them know a kid from their county or school and come here to support the kid,” H.N. Lewis, an event organizer, said.

About 20 local agriculture students participated in the pig chase and 20 more participated in the more rough-and-tumble calf scramble.

The object was to capture one of 10 animals released into a ring and drag it over to the finish line. Winners of the competition must keep and raise the animal they won. The winners will show their animals at competitions later next year.

Lewis said the scramble was a positive event because it taught the winners left to raise the animals responsibility and respect for the area’s agricultural roots.

“Lots of these kids have never been around a live animal,” he said.

Clad in helmets, the students wrestled the animals and occasionally each other to bring home a calf or pig.

Marianna resident Jay Elliot, 15,  left the peanut festival with a porker.

“I couldn’t really grab a hold of him, so I laid on top of him.”

Preston Rodgers, 16, of Ashford also caught a pig.

Rodgers’ said the secret of his success was true grit.

“You get a lot of dirt and rub it on your hands, then you can hang on,” he said.