SIDNEY — City Manager Mark Cundiff was “jilted” by the pig he promised to kiss as an incentive to raise funds for the Shelby County United Way during the city’s annual Rodeo on Oct. 25.
The pig apparently had other ideas, as it shunned the planned milk bath and ran away.
It seemed like such a simple plan. All city of Sidney Human Resources Manager Vickie Allen had to do was drive to Kenton, pick up a pig, and deliver it back to Custenborder Park so that City Manager Mark Cundiff could keep his promise to city employees.
Cundiff had promised employees that he would kiss a pig if the employees surpassed this year’s United Way goal of $10,000. Employees did one better. They set a new giving record by exceeding the previous record of $10,793 set in 2012. The new record is $11,700, which includes $125.70 raised by recycling aluminum cans and proceeds of $161 raised at the annual chili luncheon.
Allen decided to detour through DeGraff so that she could bathe the pig at the home of her sister. Upon arrival, the pig promptly escaped.
After spending considerable time chasing the pig through the village, a passing farmer lent a hand. He was able to catch the pig in the lot of the Dollar General store and subsequently return it to its crate. Allen quickly drove the pig back to the farm to avoid any further escapades.
“The pig certainly didn’t want to cooperate,” Allen stated after the pig had been safely returned to Kenton. “It was not that big, but it was muscular. It was certainly more than I could handle.”
The event was rescheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 11:15 a.m. This time, a more local piglet was secured by C.J. Keener, an equipment operator in the Parks Department. If he needed assistance, Parks Director Duane Gaier promised to help. The event was held at Fire Station 1.
Human Resources Coordinator Kelly Holthaus suspects that the employees’ level of giving was spurred by City Manager Mark Cundiff’s promise to kiss the pig. Holthaus is also the United Way Campaign chair for the city of Sidney.
“Each year, I offer an incentive,” Cundiff said. “Last year, I offered to shave my head. Since I don’t have a lot of hair left, it apparently wasn’t much of an incentive! Apparently kissing a pig is a much better incentive.”
“The United Way is such a worthwhile cause that if it takes kissing a pig, I’ll do it again next year,” Cundiff said. “Kelly has promised that next year, she will have me kissing a fainting goat!”
“I am grateful that our employees recognize the importance the United Way plays within Sidney and Shelby County,” Sidney Mayor Mike Barhorst said. “United Way supports 27 different programs, all of which impact residents of Sidney and Shelby County.”
“I have been involved directly or indirectly with many of those programs and know how the programs can change the lives of others,” Barhorst said. “It’s one of the reasons Jenny and I contribute personally to the United Way.”
“I want to again congratulate the city of Sidney’s employees for setting a new giving record this year,” United Way Executive Director Scott Barr said.
The United Way Victory Luncheon is scheduled for Nov. 3 at the Sidney American Legion Hall. The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m., just after Cundiff has taken care of his promise.
