Even with the threat of rain, the turnout was strong at the 34th annual Swine Time Festival held in Climax Saturday.

The Swine Time weekend began Friday night with the annual chicken pilau dinner and the Climax Grand Ole Opry, both sponsored by the Climax Golden Agers.

People came from far and wide to enjoy the Swine Time festivities. The longest distance anyone came in Georgia was Tammy Lewis of Calhoun, Ga. The longest distance in United States was Ashley Barnett of San Antonio, Texas. The longest distance in the world was Matthew Thomas Walshe of Richmond, Victoria, Australia.

Thankfully the rain held off until about noon on Saturday allowing for the majority of events to take place.

Climax Community Club President Darlene Collins said she estimated several thousand people were in attendance on Saturday, and she was very pleased with the way everything went.

“I hate that it rained, but there’s nothing you can do about the weather,” Collins said.

Events kicked off early Saturday morning with more than 70 participants hitting the road in a five-kilometer run. Following the race, people lined the streets of Climax to see the parade as it made its way through the city. The Climax Volunteer Fire Department served as the grand marshals. The Swine Time Princesses as well as U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop were in the parade.

The award for best float went to the Decatur County Board of Commissioners with their red house filled with children and adorned with a big pig.

The winner of the best parade animal went to a black donkey, and the best automobile award went to Joel Hughes, who drove his Model A Ford.

Following the parade, Collins gave a warm welcome to everyone in attendance, introducing all the special guests. The invocation followed given by the Rev. Steve Poppell.

Tom Mills of Southern Mills Auction Company then led an auction of jellies, flowers and one of the Swine Time Festival quilts that went to County Commissioner Butch Mosely, who paid $750 for it.

Later in the day, a drawing took place with Connie Glass of Bainbridge winning of the second quilt. The quilts were made by The Climax Sew and Sew Quilters, which is made up of five Climax ladies—Ruth Betts, Fannie Wells, Lois Stuckey, Diane Gibson and Marjorie Jones.

“We call our work a labor of love,” Wells said. “The money we make is donated to the Community Club, which in turn donates it to those in need.”

Three babies under 1-year-old competed in the baby crawling contest with Jayden Jones of Tallahassee, Fla., taking the first-place prize at his first Swine Time.

Another fun event was the best dressed pig contest where kids picked out an outfit and dressed a piglet. From all the squeals, it was apparent most pigs don’t like getting dressed up. Heather Felt of Dacula, Ga., won the contest with her piglet dressed as Santa Clause.

Male and female contestants then took their seat to test their prowess in the chitterlings eating contest. Using only their hands, Gary Brewer of Tifton and Synthia Randall of Thomasville took the prize, finishing their plate before all others. It was both winner’s first time attending Swine Time.

The winners of the hog calling contest for the boys was 3-year-old Koby Wynn of Climax, and for the girls was 8-year-old Trentorria Green of Quincy, Fla. In the adult competition, Bud Glover of Vada won for the men and Sleraze Scott of Quincy, Fla., won for the women.

The corn shucking contest winners were Tyler Gott of Climax for the boys, and Junior Miss Swine Time Jordyn Raye Taylor for the girls. Bud Glover of Vada won for the men and there was a tie for the winner of the women between Shawn Vickers of Quincy, Fla., and Leanna Flowers of Bainbridge.

Tyler Gott of Climax also won the boys hula-hoop contest, and Trentoria Green of Quincy, Fla., won for the girls. Lacey Maloy of Climax won for the women. The men did not compete.

Unfortunately, the greasy pig chase was canceled due to the bad weather.

Even with a bit of rain, fun was had by all at this year’s Swine Time.