WATCH: Wisconsin church “Pig Wrestling” event raises money but also controversy

ABOVE: Is “Pig Wrestling” a form of animal cruelty, or simply harmless good fun? 

Church fundraisers are usually calm, reserved affairs meant to bring together a community. Things like bake sales, toy drives, and carolling walks are staples of the community church fundraising scene.

But the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Stephensville, Wisconsin, has taken a different approach to the community fundraiser – one that’s decidedly messier.

And while it puts a smile on the face of event participants, animal rights activists are saying the church-sponsored event represents a form of animal cruelty.

Known as “Pig Wrestling” or the “Pig Wrassle”, the event sees teams try to corral a pig in knee-high mud, with the goal being to place the pig upon a nearby barrel within a given time frame.

This past Sunday, hundreds of local residents paid up to either spectate the event, or try their hand at corralling a mud-covered pig in the 44th annual “Pig Wrassle”.

But they weren’t the only ones taking in the spectacle. Dozens of protesters also were on hand to decry what they say is a form of animal cruelty.

“A pig cannot consent to wrestle, it can only be forced,” protestor Kim Sicha told WFRV News in Green Bay. “There is no argument that it is not necessary that people should wrestle pigs for money.”

But those who were participating in the event took a different view, saying the event is nothing but harmless fun and doesn’t represent a threat to the pigs.

“We’re just holding it and trying to lift it up,” pig wrestler Missy Pelky said. “It would squeal, but it’s not like we are hurting it. We are not doing anything wrong.”

According to local Fox station WLUK, the event brings in over $3,000 in funds each year for the church.

It should be pointed out that pig wrestling is not unique to the St. Patrick’s parish, and is held at state fairs and agricultural shows across the United States.

However, the event is sometimes seen as controversial – for example, Wisconsin’s neighbor state Minnesota has made the practice of pig wrestling a misdemeanor.

Despite the presence of protestors, the church says it has no plans to cancel next year’s Pig Wrestling event.