Farmer Minor and Daisy visit the Vinton Library

By Debbie Adams

The summer fun continues at the Vinton Library. Visits from Mill Mountain Theatre and Kids’
Square were followed on June 29 by an in-person visit from the very popular Farmer Minor, his
pot-bellied pig Daisy, and his pug, Dixie Cup.

The library meeting room was again packed with children, parents, grandparents, and caregivers
for the appearance of what Farmer Minor described as “not your ordinary pig, but the world’s
most famous pig – and the most spoiled.” Daisy has appeared on television and in newspapers
around the world, in large part, promoting libraries and reading.

Minor says his mission, and Daisy’s, is “to encourage children to develop a love of reading.”
Farmer Minor told the children Daisy has her own personal pig library, filled with over 1,100
books, many sent to her by fans from around the world. Each night before she goes to sleep,
Daisy insists on being read a story and it must be about pigs.

She also has a huge collection of her own library cards – over 1,400 – from the 48 contiguous
states; she hasn’t made it yet to Hawaii or Alaska.

In addition, Daisy has been awarded keys to five cities, presented by their mayors; and she is the
only known pig with her own CD, “Big Fun on the Hog Farm,” with River City Slim & the
Zydeco Hogs, her favorite band.

Farmer Minor also brought along his pug, Dixie Cup, who is a fan of dog books and has a book
collection, too.

Sitting in his rocking chair, Minor shared the story of how he and Mrs. Minor (Paul and Victoria)
came to own Daisy and the pugs. He was raised on a dairy farm in Bristol, Conn.,, graduated
from Virginia Tech in 1970, and married Victoria. They moved to Connecticut, where he worked
at a telephone company for 29 years – part of the corporate world, wearing a suit and tie to work
(now he wears overalls).

Around 1995, when the Minors’ son and daughter grew up and moved away from home to attend
college, Mrs. Minor found the house too quiet. According to her husband, she cried continually,
although he was enjoying the peace and quiet. She decided they needed a new baby – a baby pig.

“We have been married 52 years, she always gets her way,” said Minor.

A nearby farm had a litter of seven baby pigs (five and a half weeks old) so the Minors paid them
a visit. Six of the babies were nursing but Daisy, the runt of the litter, was being pushed away.
She’s the one Mrs. Minor chose. When she cuddled Daisy, her smiles returned.

Daisy became well-known in their community at the Boys and Girls Club annual Kiss-a-Pig
fundraiser in which people paid money to get community celebrities to kiss a pig.

Then, in 1997, a local library asked if Minor would bring Daisy in for a story hour. Her fame
spread from there. Within a couple of years with so many requests for visits, Minor gave up his
day job and hit the road with Daisy, staying in hotels along the way. In some years they
presented over 300 shows around the country.

In addition to libraries, Farmer Minor and Daisy have visited assisted living facilities, nursing
homes, and juvenile detention centers.

While most pigs sleep in barns or outside, Daisy sleeps in bed with the Minors – under the
covers. They had to purchase a king-sized bed because Daisy was always “hogging the bed” and
trying to push them out, plus she has sharp hooves. Their other sleeping companions are the pug,
who cuddles up next to Daisy, and a cat who sleeps on top of the covers.

Cleanliness is not a worry. Farmer Minor says Daisy enjoys taking a daily shower with him. She
was easily potty-trained – pigs are extremely intelligent.

Daisy does snore – but not as loudly as Mrs. Minor and Dixie Cup.

She wakes up early every morning, “oinking” for breakfast to be prepared. After breakfast she
likes to go back to bed for a nap and has to be roused for her library-visiting duties. Right after
dinner, she disappears and jumps back into bed, pushes down the covers, and waits for her story
to be read.

Farmer Minor noted that she does have a few unsavory habits and traits. He played a tape which
included a variety of the grunting and snorting noises she makes. He noted that she chews loudly,
with her mouth open, drools, and has sharp teeth.

However, she does love libraries, librarians, and children. During her time at the Vinton Library,
Daisy quietly out in her stroller (bearing a sign that says “I love libraries”), with her tongue
hanging out, barely moving or making a sound, while Farmer Minor shared their story, read a
book to the audience, and led the children in a “Pig Out on Reading” pledge.

Farmer Minor garnered some “eews” for feeding Daisy a treat directly from his lips. He then
insisted that Vinton’s children’s librarian, Jen Whitcomb, do the same. She was a good sport –
although apprehensive – and joined in the fun.

Each child was then invited to pet Daisy, give her a hug, and even a kiss. Most turned down the
kiss. Dixie Cup received her share of hugs, too.