By SUSAN BLOWER
Indiana Correspondent

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The crowd chuckles as the emcee announces the pig competitors at the Indiana State Fair, “And wearing the green colors is Oprah Swinefree.”

The four pigs race around the track and finish in about two minutes, aided by the humorous one-liners of Tim Hart, aka Professor Swineheart.

The pig contestants race at fairs from coast to coast for one season before growing too big, which is more than 50 pounds. Then they are sold to feeder farms or are taken back to the Hedrick Exotic Animal Farm in Nickerson, Kan. to breed future racers, said Sondra Hedrick, co-owner.

Hedrick said the pigs are easily trained because they are smart and personable. Some are well traveled before retiring. One set of pigs is air-lifted to Hawaii each year.

Their other exotic animals - from kangaroos to water buffaloes - have a longer career. The Hedricks operate two petting zoos, pig and ostrich racing teams, and ponies and camels to ride at 100-plus events each year. In the wintertime, some of them serve in nativity programs.

The animals are purchased or bred at home on their farm and pasture, which also serves as a bed and breakfast. The Hedricks grow corn, soybeans, wheat, barley and hay on half of their 3,000-acres, Joe Hedrick said. Most of the produce is used for feed.

“We take our (bed and breakfast) guests on a tour to see the animals. It’s a farm setting instead of a zoo,” Sondra said.

She said the kangaroos and giraffes are housed on the farm together, while the zebras and camels graze on the pasture lands companionably. The water buffalo and cows also get along, but the antelopes are a different story.

“We learned the antelopes don’t put up with the other animals. They have horns and they use them,” Sondra said.

Joe, owner and president of the exotic farm for the past 30 years, grew up in a family that owned various exotic animals as pets, such as a coyote, bear and guanaco, which is a wild llama species.

The family members were rodeo clowns. Joe started out as a rodeo clown, taught school for nine years, then found he enjoyed breeding and raising exotic animals. He built his business from the ground up.

Gradually, the traveling petting zoos and other attractions were added. Sondra Hedrick used to travel with the animals to various events - “until the grandkids came along and I wanted to be home more.”

Joe, 66, doesn’t see retirement in his immediate future.

“I enjoy it. I’m past retirement age, but if you love what you’re doing, why retire?” he said.

Joe travels with one set of ponies and camels all over the country for up to six weeks at a time. He does the booking with conventions, while Sondra oversees the farm and bookkeeping.

Like many farmers, Hedrick learned how to take care of the animals from his father. Also like many farmers, the Hedricks have not pushed their children to pursue their line of work, Sondra said.

“With the increase in rules and regulations and insurance, it’s getting harder. All of the USDA permits we have to have makes it tough,” Sondra said.

The animals travel in a semi-truck which is big enough to allow them to move around, she said. After five hours on the road, the animals need to be watered.

Sondra thinks the Hedricks’ events are popular because people commonly have a “love of animals.”

“Kids don’t get to see those animals otherwise because (kids) are not on the farm. It gives them a chance to see and pet them. Our people are also entertaining,” she said. “You don’t get to ride a camel every day. It’s a free attraction at the fair.”

Joe said that his 11 giraffes are the most unique animals in his petting zoo. They usually stay on the farm but occasionally travel to nearby events, he said.

Working with the pigs makes it all worthwhile for Michael Denning, 26, who helped at the Indianapolis State Fair.

“We’re busy year-round,” added emcee Hart. “Watching all the people smile, laugh and giggle and talking to them afterwards is the best part.”

Joe said his 30 employees are like family, and he anticipates that when he finally does retire, his children or his employees may purchase his business.

“We’re proud of it,” he said of his ground-up enterprise.