VA: PIG SCRAMBLING CAUSES STIR AT COUNTY FAIR
<p><b>Supers/Fonts: </b> Tuesday</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Woodstock, VA</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>Story Location: </b> Woodstock</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>State/Province: </b> Virginia</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>Shot Date: </b> 08/27/2024</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>URL: </b> https://www.whsv.com/2024/08/28/animal-rights-activists-raise-concern-pig-scrambling-tradition-shenandoah-county-fair/</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>Notes and Restrictions: </b></p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>Newsource Notes: </b></p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>Story Description: </b></p>\n<p>Elements:</p>\n<p>sound with fair spokesperson, broll of animals at fair, video and sound with animal abuse activists</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Wire/StoryDescription:</p>\n<p>The decades-long annual pig scrambling tradition at the Shenandoah County Fair has caused animal rights activists to voice concerns about the tradition.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The Shenandoah County Fairs pig scrambling event has been a leading event for years. Children ages 3 to 8 chase after pigs in a pen with lard-covered hands, catch them, and take them home as a prize to be cared for.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The biggest thing about what we do here is to teach these kids about a little responsibility said Shenandoah County Fair Association director Jim Eastep.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Eastep, who is 81 years old, has been attending the fair since he was eight years old and says the fair and events like the pig scramble are opportunities for children to connect with livestock while getting educated and staying safe. Eastep also says the pigs are humanely cared for before and after the event.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>While some support the tradition and see it as harmless fun right down the street, critics argue that it is outdated and an inhumane practice.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Tina Ciccariello started a petition and protest the event down the street from the fair. Ciccariello says pigs are prey animals; their instinct is to flee, and a live animal shouldnt be greased and caught. Ciccariello argues that the behaviors taught in the event can negatively influence the children who participate.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Anyone else been scared? Has anyone else been chased before? And if you have, how did it make you feel? Ciccariello said. Ciccariello also fears the pigs in the competition are mishandled, often causing injury, and asks for the fairs board of directors to change its practices and traditions.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>The pig scramble will be held on Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. at the Shenandoah County Fair, 300 Fairground Road, Woodstock, VA 22664.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Station Notes/Scripts:</p>\n<p>CONTROVERSY IS SURROUNDING A RURAL TRADITION AT THE SHENANDOAH COUNTY FAIR.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>THE ANNUAL FAIR PIG-SCRAMBLING TRADITION -- HAS CAUSED ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS TO SPEAK OUT ---</p>\n<p> WHSV'S MAIR FUH-MET HAS MORE ON THE CONCERNS AND THE HISTORY OF THE POPULAR TRADITION. </p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(***PKG***) L3RD - JIM EASTEP, DIRECTOR | SHENANDOAH COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION</p>\n<p>"the biggest thing about what we do here is to teach these kids about a little responsibility"</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>L3RD - ACTIVISTS RAISE CONCERNS OVER SHENANDOAH COUNTY FAIR TRADITION</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>JIM EASTEP HAS BEEN COMING TO THE SHENANDOAH COUNTY FAIR SINCE HE WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD- AND HAS BEEN PARTICIPATING IN PIG SCRAMBLING SINCE</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>PIG SCRAMBLING -A TRADITIONAL EVENT AT THE FAIR- IS WHERE CHILDREN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHASE AROUND PIGS AND TAKE THEM HOME AS A PRIZE.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>"to show them how to care for an animal-which they would never have the opportunity to do"</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>EASTEP SAYS THE TRADITION AND THE FAIR AS A WHOLE AIMS TO EDUCATE CHILDREN AND TEACH THEM ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>WHILE SOME SUPPORTERS OF THE TRADITION SEE IT AS HARMLESS FUN- RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM THE FAIR ARE CRITICS WHO ARGUE THE TRADITION IS OUTDATED AND AN INHUMANDE PRATICE.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>L3RD - TINA CICCARIELLO, ACTIVIST</p>\n<p>"anyone else been scared? Has anyone else been chased before? And it you have, how did it make you feel?"</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>CICCARIELLO SAYS THE PIGS IN THE COMPETITION ARE OFTEN MISHANDLED, CAUSING INJURY AND FEAR AND CHALLENGES THE FAIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO CHANGE ITS PRATICES</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>"as new information arises in my life and new expierences- i create new ones- and we can creat new ones with this event too"</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>ULTIMATELY, WHAT BOTH SIDES WANT ARE FOR CHILDREN TO BE EDUCATED AND SAFE</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(nats)</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>WORKING HARD FOR YOU- MAIR FUH MET WHSV</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>--SUPERS</b>--</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>--VIDEO SHOWS</b>--</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>--VO SCRIPT</b>--</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>--LEAD IN</b>--</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>--SOT</b>--</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>--TAG</b>--</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS</b>--</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>-----END-----CNN.SCRIPT-----</b></p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>--KEYWORD TAGS--</b></p>\n<p></p>