Anyone who has ever been to the North Dakota State Fair has likely heard of Daryl’s Racing Pigs. The race is run by Daryl Lies, along with his children and grandchildren, and is a huge hit with the crowd, young and old. The races start with the new piglets Lies and his family have raised and trained for just three weeks to race at the State Fair.

“We used to have to train them for months, but now we have gotten to the point where we only need about three weeks to train new pigs,” Lies said

Lies then brings out his older pigs, who are faster and less timid. The pig decorated in the yellow scarf appeared to be a crowd favorite on the first day of the fair, but alas, the red-scarfed pig won the race.

“This one is competitive by spirit,” said Lies. “He is always the fastest when the treats come out.”

Darlyn Lies stands in front of his trailer with his grandchildren Sharlotte and Scarlett Friday at the North Dakota State Fair.

Lies said he got his start with pig racing as an FFA project while he was in high school. The mayor of Minot then asked him to be at the State Fair in 1988. He has been showcasing his racing pigs at the State Fair each year ever since.