Mutton Bustin’

Just hold on tight

The name was clever, the concept irresistible. Mutton Bustin’ at the Litchfield Fair. Kids aged seven and eight (deemed too old for the time-honored pig scramble) would have a new event in which to compete. The object was simple: hold on tight for as long as you can.

“The winner gets a $20 bill. And bragging rights,” said Dick Brown, First Vice President for the Fair and the driving force behind the event. “We did the pig races a few years ago, and that was a real crowd pleaser, too. But it got pretty hard to find pigs that we could borrow that weighed 100 or 200 pounds so we could have the race.”

Brown had seen the concept of sheep racing at other fairs, and he presented the idea to the Litchfield board. They agreed it would be worth a try, as a fun way for kids to stay in touch with the area’s agricultural roots. Heading into the event, however, the only thing he knew for sure was that it would be memorable.

“This is a family-oriented Fair, and this is an activity that grandmothers can come and watch their little ones,” Brown said. “Hopefully nobody will get hurt. They might get a little dirty. We might have a good stain commercial here.”

And one terrific photo op.