NMS Principal Hams It Up To Get Kids To Read

By Susan Coney

Newtown Middle School Principal Diane Sherlock and reading teachers Cathy Cincogrono and Patty Bowles really hammed it up last week, when all three kissed a 126-pound pot bellied pig as part of a promotion to get kids excited about reading.

Ms Cincogrono wore a pig nose as she introduced Daisy, a laid back porker who arrived at the school in her own custom-designed van splayed with her picture on the side. She entered the auditorium via a large baby stroller with the help of her owner Paul Minor, who refers to himself as Farmer Minor.

Farmer Minor has developed a motivational program titled “Pig Out on Reading.” He and Daisy have traveled all over the United States bringing the program to children of all ages in the hopes that it will motivate them to read.

Farmer Minor bragged that Daisy is the most famous pig in the world, stating she has been featured in numerous newspapers and on television from coast-to-coast. Daisy became the first pig to be invited inside of the US Capitol and received her own letter from First Lady Laura Bush. Daisy has received hundreds of pig-related books from fans on her travels from state to state. Farmer Minor confessed that although Daisy herself cannot read, she likes to be read to and he reads her a pig book every night.

Farmer Minor shared with the staff and students that his wife, Victoria, became lonely several years ago when their two children left home to go to college. Her remedy to fix the quiet, empty-nest syndrome was to adopt a tiny, pot bellied pig. They brought Daisy to their farm when she was just 5 weeks old and she will be 12 years old in August. Since that time the couple have added a cat and most recently a pug puppy to their menagerie. Both animals think that they are pigs and have taken to Daisy as if she were their mother.

Farmer Minor said that the very first night the pig wiggled its way into their bed as well as into their hearts. He placed her at the foot of the bed and woke up to find the piglet had snuggled up under his arm with her head on his shoulder and that is the way she has slept ever since.

Farmer Minor went on to tell the students humorous problems he and his wife have encountered in raising a pig. With his charming stories he piqued the middle school students’ interest and got them to promise to read more books during the upcoming summer vacation break.

At the close of the program every student was invited to come up on stage and pet or kiss Daisy. The students enthusiastically lined up to get a closer look at the peaceful porker, who only moved once during the program when Farmer Minor offered her a raisin as a treat.

Seventh grader Alan Diaz hung back from the crowd of students wanting to see Daisy. He was holding off to be the last person to go up and see the pig. Asked if he would kiss the pig, as the others had, Alan responded, “Well I was going to until I saw everyone else kissing her. Yuck!”