'Pucker up,' said the principal to the pig

The Esko school cafetorium erupted with cheers and laughter Wednesday morning as Principal Brian Harker smooched a pig.

It was the perfect ending to the "Pig Out On Books" challenge at Winterquist Elementary in honor of the February "I love to read month."

Before he went nose-to-snout with Diesel, the pet potbellied pig, Harker told the 690 students in grades K-6 how proud he was of them.

"You worked so hard to beat your AR (Accelerated Reader) challenge," he said. "And some needed extra incentive, and your principal to do something really silly."

In the past, Harker has shaved his head, and spent the day in an igloo being visited by groups of students who brought him snacks and hot chocolate.

Kissing a pig wasn't so bad, he said, especially a curious, clean and domesticated pig that obeys commands like "sit," "shake hands," "spin" and perhaps "kiss." And one that had recently had its teeth brushed by owner Hailey Davis.

It was a quick kiss. There were no mishaps, although Diesel did piddle on the stage before he kissed Harker, which made the children squeal with delight..

"I was impressed that he looked right at me," said Harker afterward. "And lucky his snout was drier than the bottom of his mouth."

The students filed out of the cafetorium back to their classrooms, some of them still laughing about their silly principal and a pig named Diesel.