The Spencer-Penn Centre held its 14th Annual Pig Cookin’ on April 26, drawing a large crowd with food, activities and community fun.
The event opened with Tim Compton kissing a baby pig, part of the center’s annual fundraiser. Additional highlights included a pie-eating contest, cruise-in, piggy train, barbecue, a beer garden by Scuffle Hill Brewing, and numerous vendors offering goods and information about their services.
“This was our second annual Kiss the Pig Competition, and it blew us away,” said Executive Director Susan Sabin. The contest raised more than $2,500, with Compton narrowly beating contender and Board of Supervisor candidate Chris Lawless by just $63. Del. Eric Phillips was also among those vying for a chance to smooch the swine.
Compton, a Henry County Sheriff’s captain, raised a total of $1,083 and said he volunteered after hearing help was needed for the contest at Fast Track.
“It was interesting. I never kissed a pig before, but it was a cool experience,” he said. “She seemed like she was a little nervous,” he quipped, “but we both got through it.”
Phillips said that while he enjoyed helping raise funds, he joked that he preferred not to win.
“You hope you get a lot, but you hope you lose by a couple of dollars if you can,” he said.
“It was amazing to me how many people in our community were picking up on it and getting excited about it,” Sabin said.
The center was filled with vendors and activities both inside and outside.
“We had over 45 vendors sign up,” said Sabin. She noted that the event takes months to plan but was glad to see a strong turnout. “This is what this is about, the community coming about and seeing each other, carrying these traditions out, and seeing neighbors meeting each other.”
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office was also on-site with a tent, including Sheriff Wayne Davis.
Scuffle Hill Brewing, which recently debuted its mead at the brewery, hosted the beer garden.
“We are happy to be here, and so far, it’s been pretty good,” said owner Jerry Abell. The brewery has also served at Fast Track and will appear at Martinsville’s First Fridays. It is also supporting the inaugural Ridgeway Bee Festival with its new mead.
Nearby, the Franklin County Master Gardeners sold plants and butterfly bottles. Certified by Virginia Tech, the group provided information about home gardening and programs designed to help adults and children learn more about horticulture.
The Sons of the American Revolution gave historical interpretations of the Revolutionary War era.
“Just a little bit of the history of what went on in our area during the revolution,” said Gary Hollandsworth.
The group demonstrated how to load and fire a flintlock musket and explained battlefield strategies of the time.
“The real thing was the game changer of the battlefield would be a bayonet,” said Andrew Doss.
Phillips is in the process of joining the Sons of the American Revolution.
“Over the last year or so I’ve gotten into tracing back my family roots,” said Phillips, who added that he is a proud American and is “looking forward” to joining.
Spencer-Penn will continue hosting events throughout the summer and has opened its farmers’ market. More information about upcoming activities is available on the center’s Facebook page and website.
