Hog wrestling promoter says animals not harmed, but Delaware Count Fair ends event

Spencer County farmer Bobby Fuchs told The Star Press on Thursday that he wanted to steer clear of the controversy that led to the fair board canceling the event. But Fuchs did say he has not seen injuries or fatalities among hogs wrestled by teams at county fairs.

"It's just a bunch of people having good fun," Fuchs said. "There's no harm to the hog. I don't see anything wrong as long as we have good judges."

Hog wrestling at the Delaware County Fair has been the subject of occasional complaints in the seven years it has been offered at the fair. This year, after The Star Press reported the July fair's lineup would include hog wrestling, an online petition was begun that collected thousands of signatures.

The Delaware County commissioners came out in favor of doing away with the event, although fair board members worried that another event wouldn't provide the $9,000 to $12,000 in revenue that hog wrestling generated.