Rib Fest panel has ‘Name the Pig’ contest

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Planning for this summer’s annual Van Wert Rib Fest has moved into high gear with lots of great entertainment and plenty of fun activities being planned for the whole family. Details of this year’s events will be released in the near future.

The Rib Fest Planning Committee had a surprise visitor at its last meeting … a new volunteer who wants to help make this the best rib event in the area. “Pig,” as he introduced himself, explained that he had just recently run away from old McDonald’s farm outside of Victor, N.Y., “because I felt I wasn’t appreciated.”

“I had a lot of ideas for improving the lives of local swine and the image of pigs in general, but old farmer McDonald wouldn’t listen to any of my suggestions,” he added. “I came to Van Wert hoping to be of help in your efforts.”

After conferring with the Planning Committee, Convention and Visitors Bureau President, Dave Roach, welcomed “Pig” as a member of the committee. It was felt that a friendlier name should be given to “Pig,” but the committee couldn’t agree on a better one, so it was decided to have a “Name the Pig” contest and invite the public to submit names.

Entry forms may be picked up at the Van Wert Area Convention and Visitors Office, 136 E. Main St., or downloaded at http://visitvanwert.org/documents/NamethePigEntryForm.pdf. Deadline for submitting names is March 30.

The winning name will be chosen by the Rib Fest Planning Committee from those submitted. If there are multiple entries with the same name, the winning entry will be drawn randomly from those with like names. The winner will receive a prize package valued at over $50. So get those creative juices running and let the committee hear some ideas.

Other members of the Planning Committee are Martha Balyeat, Jan Dunlap, Stuart Jewett, Brent Kohn, Larry Lee, Kristin Lichtensteiger, Thad Lichtensteiger, John Marshall, Jordan Miller, Dave Roach, Robert Contreras, Al Saylor, Carlos Tyas, Larry Webb and Stuart Wyatt.