October 16, 2004 - Fernan and Hayden Lake students watch famous potbellied swine dance, bowl and catch a Frisbee

By Linda Ball
Correspondent

Who says pigs can't fly?

Students at Fernan and Hayden Lake Elementary schools were treated to a special performance of Valentines Performing Pigs last week, in assemblies at their respective schools.

Steve and Priscilla Valentine, of Gig Harbor, Wash., brought their famous pigs to town while on a 30-day tour. These potbellied pigs, also called Chinese miniature pigs, have appeared on "Donahue," "The Today Show," "Animal Planet," The Discovery Channel, "America's Greatest Pets," "Good Morning America," "Late Night with David Letterman," the BBC and "Oprah."

Hayden Lake Elementary principal Kathleen Kuntz told her students that, as a reward for all their hard work, including SATs only one month into school, they deserved a break. First to perform was Snort, the Valentines' current male, or boar, star. Snort performed a round dance, caught a Frisbee disc (sort of in slow motion), jumped through a hoop, and pushed a little car Ð even honking the horn Ð much to the delight of the kids.

"How does Snort keep so slim?" Priscilla asked. Why, of course, he does step-aerobics. On that cue, Snort steps up and down on a little step.

Petunia, a 1-year-old sow, was up next. Petunia enjoys helping around the home, the Valentines said, as she pushed a little lawn mower. Then she defied gravity by jumping through a little hoop.

Nelly, billed as the world's best-known trick pig, lives to perform, according to her trainers. With a little help from fourth-grader Arionna Randolph, Nelly launches a small ball for Arionna to catch. Nelly also performs bowling feats and, keeping with an educational theme, spells out H-A-M with letters, showing the kids that even she knows the importance of reading and writing.

The hardest trick for Nelly was putting a golf ball into the hole. After several attempts she was successful. The Valentines inform the students that she is a member of the "LPIG."

"It was fun!" Arionna said of playing ball with Nelly. Her classmates, Jennifer Costa, Latona Frey and Gabby Hoots, thought the performances by all the pigs were "great" and "cool," and Gabby was relieved that Arionna wasn't at all nervous.

The miniature pigs all have straight tails, and like man's best friend, when they are happy, their tails wag. Snort, Petunia and Nelly, who have their own bedrooms in the Valentines' home, are definitely living high on the hog, because their little tails were wagging all the time.

At the end of the performance, they took a bow, which is hard to do with their short legs.

"You always have to stay a step ahead of them," said Steve Valentine, "because they're so smart."