Gary and Gail Ricker were dear friends of ours for 12 years.  The Rickers always had an assortment of animals on thier farm property, which usually included a couple of pigs. One evening, close to Christmas in the early 1980's, we were traveling home from town with our kids when we came upon Gary at the corner of Cross Road and Hwy 537.  We stoped to see what was up and Gary advised that his two pigs has escaped from the barn and he was attempting to round them up. I told Gary that I would bring the family home and return to give him a hand.

When I got back Gary was close to getting the smaller pig into his trailer, I helped him complete this task and the pig was returned to the barn.  Now for the very large sow.

The sow had worked her way into the deep snow toward Jumbo Creek.  We got beside her and attempted to turn her around toward the road, easier said than done. No matter what we did that sow would not change direction.

We worked at this for what seemed like a very long time until fianlly, out of complete frustration, and with no warrning Gary somehow picked that pig up out of the snow and fliped it around so that it was pointed toward the road, I was amazed to say the least!

Now we had to coax the pig to the trailer. again easier said than done, the pig would have nothing to do with this plan.  We thought that we could encourage her along if we had somthing to slap her but with, out came my hockey stick. No matter what we did that sow was not going to leave the deep snow.

The night did not end well, the pig got onto the ice on Jumbo Creek, fell through, never to be seen again. We felt terrible for Gary and Gail as the animal represented a significant investment and was cloe to being in the freezer.

This was a story that we dined out on for many years after. You were a great friend and neighbour Mr. Ricker.