Photo by Deb Gau As the winner of the Box Car Days “Kiss the Pig” contest, Adam Connor leans in to plant a kiss on a pig’s snout Monday afternoon.

TRACY — The grand parade had wrapped up, but the Box Car Days celebration wasn’t over yet for the crowd gathered in Tracy’s downtown on Monday afternoon. Besides enjoying food or socializing at the beer tent, festival-goers were waiting to see which of their neighbors would have to pucker up and kiss a pig.

“It’s just something silly we did,” said Khyle Radke, of the Box Car Days organizing committee. Monday was the second annual “Kiss the Pig” contest at Box Car Days. Starting in the days leading up to the festival, community members had a chance to donate money to vote for a contestant.

People clustered around a stage at the beer tent as this year’s five participants were called up, including Tracy Area High School teacher and coach Derek Ashbaugh, Sgt. Adam Connor of the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department, Darcy Carlson of Minnwest Bank, TAHS Principal Mandy Dibble, and Matt Knakmuhs of Knakmuhs Agency.

Jay Fultz held up a small pig from Fultz Farms, while the crowd cheered for their favorite contestants. Fultz suddenly stopped by Connor, revealing him as the winner of the contest. Connor leaned in and planted a kiss on the pig’s snout.

“I had an inkling it might be me,” Connor said of the contest. “A couple guys with the fire department were going around on Saturday, getting money from people at the beer tent.”

Overall, the contest raised more than $400 for Tracy Area Chamber of Commerce activities, Radke said. It turned out Connor had a strong lead among voters.

“We raised $415 total, and Adam was $250 of that,” he said.

People have had fun with the “Kiss the Pig” contest last year and this year, Radke and Fultz said.

“The two people who have been the one have been really good sports about it,” he said.

Radke said the winner of the contest would also receive the pork when the pig later goes to market.

Connor said he tried to have a little fun with being part of the contest, and with the situation of a law enforcement officer kissing a pig. The kiss might not have been the most pleasant experience — “I can still smell (the pig) when I breathe in,” he said afterward. But it was for a good cause, Connor said.

“It’s getting people out and having fun, kissing pigs and getting some money going back into the town,” Connor said.