2008 Big Boar Sets State Fair Record At 1,259 pounds

Freight Train, a 4-year-old Yorkshire boar, won the Big Boar contest in a big way by setting a new Iowa State Fair record weighing in at 1259 pounds. The previous record was set in 1993 at 1246 pounds.

Freight Train was exhibited by the Cormaney Brothers, Jim, Mike, Jeff and John, of Webster City. They will take home $350 in prize money. Kay Christian of Woodard was the producer. Last year, this same team won the Big Boar contest with “Big Red” by hitting a weight of 1203 pounds.

Freight Train had a very specific schedule of eating at 5:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. each day and was fed a corn and soy mix. Mike Cormaney said that his magic touch in developing winners for the Big Boar contest is time and patience and a little air-conditioning on hot days. Kay Christian, the producer, attributes good genetics as a key to her success.

“Up Dog” a York/Duroc crossbred shown by G& S Farms, of Gladbrook, earned reserve honors weighing in at 1212 pounds. They will receive $150 in premiums.

“Freight Train” and “Up Dog,” as well as the Big Ram and Super Bull, will be on display in their respective barns at the Iowa State Fair through August 17. Check out our State Fair map to find them.

State Fair Is Iowa’s Great Summer Reunion

The Iowa State Fair is Iowa’s great summer reunion, a place where old friends get reacquainted and new friends are made.

If there’s a better State Fair in the country, you’d be hard-pressed to prove it to the one million visitors to the State Fairground on the east side of Des Moines. It’s an event ripe with tradition and punctuated with surprises

Where else would throngs of people:
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