Pucker Up! That’s what all the kids were chanting at Lizemore Elementary School Friday afternoon as they waited in anticipation to see someone at their school kiss a pig! The grand event was the result of a three-week fundraiser for the schools yearbook staff.
Every year, the yearbook volunteers purchase extra gifts for every child in Lizemore Elementary. They go above and beyond to make sure the memories of the year are perfectly displayed in the yearbook, as well as making the children feel special by adding a free gift such as water bottles and drawstring bags. This year, to help fund the extras, the yearbook staff partnered with Moore Mountain Farm in Grassy Creek to put on the very first “Kiss A Pig” contest at the school. For three weeks, the kids brought in their spare change, mom and dad’s change, and possibly even grandma and grandpa’s change to fill up the individual buckets for the teacher or administrator they wanted to see kiss the pig. As the buckets filled, the kids became more and more excited, while the teachers became more and more nervous! In the end, the kids voted for their principal, Mrs. Tina Burnette. Because she’s such a good sport, and an avid supporter of all her students, she kissed the pig happily. Well, maybe reluctantly.
The pig provided by Moore Mountain Farm, owned by Joey and Amanda Moore, was a purebred Berkshire gilt. The farm raises Berkshire hogs for show and meat production. The Moore’s two daughters, Jordan and Jessica, also help with the farm. Jessica is a fourth grader at Lizemore Elementary, and enjoyed helping with the contest.
A very special thanks to Holli Layne, the third grade teacher at Lizemore Elementary for sporting the pig costume for the kids, to Kelly Morton for her help in the organization of the contest and for her work with the yearbook, to Chastity Cruikshank for her work counting money every day, and to all the teachers and administrators who participated in the contest. You are all greatly appreciated!
