Bill Klein has been in and out of pig farming his entire life, from helping his parents run a complete operation to now providing an important summer service as a stock contractor for county fair pig mud wrestling events.

The Wheatland farmer started supplying the Park County Fair with pigs last year, after the previous contractor in Greybull was unable to continue; that had left the fair with no pig wrestling in 2022.

Klein is happy to be a part of bringing the event back to the grandstands in Powell, even if it is the furthest fair away from Wheatland. Klein provides pigs for pig wrestling events at eight county fairs, from Newcastle and Riverton to Cheyenne and Douglas. He loves how exciting pig wrestling is.

“The biggest thing is it’s just fun for the crowds. The crowd really gets into it,” he said. “You see people you’d never think would want to get dirty covered in mud, and they love it.”

He guarantees at least 45 pigs for each event, but it’s not as simple as just having 45 random swine.

“We buy them as weaner pigs, and the hardest thing is getting the different sizes,” he said, as younger contestants face off with smaller pigs (and vice versa).

“We’ll get 10 of one size, 10 of another,” Klein said. “We don’t want to get a pig too aggressive for a little kids team. We want them to be able to get ahold of it, get all muddy and dirty and put on a show.”

Sizes of pigs range from 40 pounds to 240 pounds, and from 9 weeks to about 6 months old. Klein starts buying pigs in May and only bought his last batch at the end of June. Once fair season begins, he makes sure the pigs have at least three days of rest between events so they’re rested and ready to compete again.

While most pigs behave similarly, he said some are more apt to run around the ring — daring competitors to catch them and place them in the barrel — while others may wait to be grabbed, then put up a big fight.

Klein said he’s had pig wrestling teams come up and specifically request the toughest, biggest and most aggressive pig he has available.

“We try to help them out,” Klein said.

As always, pig mud wrestling can be found in the grandstands on opening day, Tuesday, with the gates opening at 6 p.m. and the action starting at 7 p.m. The cost is $6 to attend, though attendance to the fair itself is still free all day Tuesday.

To purchase tickets or to register a team, visit parkcountyeventsandfair.com.