Horizon Principal Rodney Richardson kisses Bentley the pig with assistance from Madisen Reece. (PHOTO/AMY WILLIAMS)

MADISON – “Kiss the pig … kiss the pig.”

That chant resounded along Old Madison Pike when Horizon Elementary School Principal Rodney Richardson fulfilled his pledge on March 22.

Weeks earlier during fundraising, Richardson had promised that he would kiss a pig if Horizon met its goal to raise $1,500 for Heifer International.

Horizon met and exceeded that goal with $1,604 collected in total contributions. “The fourth-grade students decided to purchase a water buffalo, goats, chickens, some bees and much more,” teacher Amy Williams said. Williams works with Horizon students who have hearing impairments.

For the kissing, the Horizon cafeteria was filled with “lots of excitement. Students were chanting. Mr. Richardson actually kissed the pig twice,” Williams said. Madisen Reece, a student at Bob Jones High School, owns Bentley the pig.

Heifer International first donated cows in 1944 to European villages after World War II. The organization now supplies 30 different types of livestock to impoverished communities around the world (heifer.org).

Madisen Reece introduces Bentley the pig to Horizon Principal Rodney Richardson. (PHOTO/AMY WILLIAMS)

Second-grade teacher Annette Driggers suggested the fundraiser. Fourth-grader Rachel Zuvanich said the fundraiser was “a fun way to help others by competing to raise money for (the) hungry so they can have animals to raise and eat.”

Fourth-grader Clayton Laskodi said Heifer International helps “families survive by providing food, water and even allowing kids to go to school. Without this effort, some families would have a hard time surviving.”

Coinciding with Richardson’s pig kissing, Horizon’s twelve-week contest for “The Biggest Loser” also ended March 22. Faculty and staff members who participated lost 283 pounds.

“The top winner was Nancy Hicks, one of our custodians. She lost just shy of 40 pounds, giving her the highest percentage lost,” Williams said.

Enrichment specialist Beth Bero was second-place winner. Bero lost about 25 pounds during the weight-loss campaign. Both Hicks and Bero received cash prizes.

When the contest started in January, each participant gave $20 to a winner’s pot, which was rewarded to Hicks and Bero for the highest weight loss percentage.