After a five-year hiatus, pig wrestling is set for a return at the Teton County Fair in 2026, but now county commissioners are reconsidering the event after activists have raised concerns that the tradition could be cruel to the animals.
The event involves challengers scrambling through a muddy pit to try to capture a pig and hoist it into a barrel. Pig wrestling has historically been a staple event at the Teton County Fair, but it has come under scrutiny due to concerns over the treatment of the animals involved.
While the event has been suspended since 2020 when the original organizers retired, county officials are eager to bring it back and have already identified a potential vendor to provide pigs for the event. A staff report issued to the Teton County Board of Commissioners describes the event as “highly requested” and adds that the fair risks “decreased satisfaction and engagement” if pig wrestling remains sidelined.
Bringing the event to the 2026 fair would cost the county an estimated $5,500, according to the report.
Animal activists, however, petitioned the Teton County Board of Commissioners during the public comment period of the board’s meeting on Monday to not sign a contract with the vendor for pig wrestling. They argued that the tradition is cruel and harmful and should be discontinued.
County officials are now weighing whether pig wrestling has a place at next year’s fair, which takes place in July. The Board of Commissioners must decide by Nov. 19 to complete the contract.
Coliseum Cruelty
Heather Coleman, a veterinarian based in Jackson, told Cowboy State Daily she sees pig wrestling as an antiquated and needlessly violent tradition, much like the gladiator fights of old. In a modern world with other safer forms of entertainment, she argued pig wrestling is senseless.
“Gladiator events back in Rome used to be a tradition,” she said via phone. “One out of 10 times a person would be killed during the event. And then people got more enlightened, and then they ended the gladiator events.”
She argued that though pig wrestling is popular, our modern society should know better than to continue perpetuating violence against animals.
“The more we evolve, the more we know about animals, and we know about their intellect and their degree of suffering,” she said. “As a country, we should be willing to change our ways.”
Coleman also highlighted the prevalence of animal cruelty in Wyoming, including the case of Cody Roberts, who is accused of torturing a wolf. These incidents are adding to a growing reputation that the state takes poor care of its animals, she said.
Amy Moore, an animal welfare activist in Jackson, told Cowboy State Daily she believes pig wrestling violates state statutes pertaining to animal cruelty and should therefore be permanently disbanded at fair events. She said she has witnessed pigs endure severe injuries during wrestling events, such as one that broke its back and others that broke legs when being dropped into the barrel.
“I don’t know if you’ve looked at the statute but… it says it’s cruelty to animals if a person intentionally and knowingly and unnecessarily injures an animal,” she said. “To say it’s harmless and the pigs don’t get injured, I think that’s an overstatement by the folks that are arguing that this should go through.”
Moore also pushed back against the cultural argument for pig wrestling, saying there are plenty of other entertaining activities that avoid harming animals, such as muddy football or tussling over a greased watermelon instead of a pig. Despite sharing the sense of nostalgia others have for pig wrestling, Moore said she agrees Teton County can do without it.
“I am rethinking it because we know more,” she said.
Protecting Tradition
Teton County Commissioner Len Carlman told Cowboy State Daily he’s received letters of support from seventh-generation Teton County residents, who say the event is an important part of the region’s history and culture. Despite this, he said he recognizes the concerns of activists and doesn’t want to see the pigs harmed.
Carlman said choosing between these two groups is like deciding where to receive a black eye.
“It’s like choosing between my left eye or my right eye, but one of them is going to get some color,” he said via phone.
The commissioner added he believes making the event for children rather than a “team of drunk bros” could give the pigs a fighting chance in the arena and prevent injuries.
Board of Commissioners chair Mark Newcomb told Cowboy State Daily he is currently focusing on educating himself on the issue. He said he will listen to his constituents before deciding on the contract.
“I do see my role as serving the public, and I have yet to read all emails and talk to folks on both sides,” he wrote via text message. “I’m absolutely not in favor of maltreatment of livestock or pets. And I very much respect those who look out for the welfare of livestock and pets and know some of those folks well and know that they voted for me.”
Newcomb said pig wrestling seems similar to rodeo events, which also put animals under the potential for harm. While the “jury is still out,” Newcomb said he hopes to find a compromise to please both traditionalists and activists alike.
“Rodeos and fairs celebrate the agricultural, farming and ranching tradition where there was some excitement involved in breaking in a wild horse, branding, castrating, etc., cattle, and, from time to time, wrestling down a pig when it came time to turn it into Easter ham,” he said.
Jackson Walker can be reached at walker@cowboystatedaily.com.
