DOTHAN: Tonight at 7 p.m., the National Peanut Festival arena becomes the site of some of the most gloriously chaotic fun in the Wiregrass: the Calf and Pig Scrambles.
Local school students will bring their best speed, nerve, and willingness to get dirty as the crowd roars.
In the Calf Scramble, contestants chase 10 calves. The calves have no interest in being caught, but students must catch one, slip a halter on it, and lead it across the finish line anyway.
In the Greased Pig Scramble, contestants chase 10 young pigs coated in peanut oil or grease, which is exactly as slippery as it sounds. Participants must tackle or catch a pig, grab its back legs, and drive or carry it across the finish line. Only half of the contestants will leave with a prize, and the other half will leave with a great story and a very good reason to shower.
But Wait, There’s Scholarship Money! Don’t let the squealing fool you. The scrambles are a serious pathway for future agricultural leaders.
Each student who catches a calf takes it home to raise for a full year, which means feeding, caring, and filing regular progress reports on the animal’s growth. (Yes, the calf gets paperwork.)
The following year, students return to the festival to show their grown animals in the Junior Heifer/Steer Show. There, they compete for the $5,000 Joe Carothers Memorial Scholarship, awarded to the student who shows the greatest dedication and the best livestock care.
So, it all starts with one slippery pig or one stubborn calf, and it could end with college money in hand.
Come out tonight at 7 p.m., bring your loudest cheer, and maybe stay out of the “splash zone”.
