Windsor Ruritans continue service with 49th Pig Pickin’
Published 10:00 am Sunday, May 4, 2025
Festivalgoers take part in the Windsor Ruritan Club’s Pig Pickin’ on Thursday, April 24, at the Heritage Park & Joel C. Bradshaw Fairgrounds in Windsor.
Four-year-old Charlotte Klepac pauses from exploring the 49th Pig Pickin’ on her bike for a photo with Raye Lin Klepac.
Gathering for a photo at the festival are from left, back row, Nicole Tyger, Pete Marsh and his daughter in front, Georgia.
Kevin Byrum and Amanda Byrum relax as they take in the WRC’s 49th Pig Pickin’.
Partaking in the WRC’s 49th Pig Pickin’ are Ruth Sharp and Marlin Sharp.
Pig Pickin’ attendees gather around to hear Island Boy perform on Thursday, April 24, in Windsor.
Enjoying the WRC’s 49th Pig Pickin’ are, from left, front row, 5-year-old Ted Deeley, 9-year-old Eason Lambert, 9-year-old Libby Deeley; back row, Aaron Lambert, Katherine Eason, Meg Eason and Shannon Lambert.
Ben Leffler, left, and Kyle Honeycutt enjoy the good food at the festival Thursday, April 24.
A dinner of barbecue, coleslaw, beans and cornbread is served at the WRC’S 49th Pig Pickin’.
Two-year-old Hudson Foster and Sam Foster hold for a photo at the Windsor Ruritan Club’s 49th Pig Pickin’.
Francesca Ciula and Jake Redd share smiles at the WRC’s 49th Pig Pickin’.
Gathering for a photo at the festival are, from left, front row, 5-year-old Walker Oliver, 7-year-old Kaysen Oliver; back row, Lauren Oliver, J.V. Oliver and Joseph Barlow.
Pausing for a photo as they take part in the WRC’s Pig Pickin’ Festival are, from left, Kiana Thomas, Christian Jackson, Crystal Jones and Nick Jones.
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The 49th annual Windsor Ruritan Club Pig Pickin’ Festival showed growth Thursday, April 24, compared to participation in recent years, with an expanding crowd coming out to the Heritage Park & Joel C. Bradshaw Fairgrounds in Windsor to enjoy good food, live music from Island Boy, games, a 50/50 raffle and fellowship.
“It was definitely a big success, and we’re thankful that the weather turned out like it did,” Windsor Ruritan Club (WRC) President Jake Redd said. “We actually sold out of meat this year, which in some sense was not that great, but I partially view it as a great thing — it seemed like people really enjoyed themselves and enjoyed the food as well.”
The food included barbecue, coleslaw, beans and cornbread, with beer and spirits also available.
The Pig Pickin’ is the WRC’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and Redd provided a rough estimate that 800 tickets to the event were sold this year.
“It’s definitely the most we’ve sold since moving the event from Foster’s Pond,” he said, referencing the home of the Pig Pickin’ for 42 years of its run.
This is the third year the event has been held at the fairgrounds.
“It looks like we’ll probably make out around $25,000 raised that we’ll be able to give back to the community this year, which is great,” Redd said, expressing gratitude to those buying tickets and also to the event’s 15 sponsors, which were led by TowneBank. “TowneBank is by far our largest sponsor, and then Smithfield Foods donated the pork itself.”
The Pig Pickin’ Eventbrite listing noted that the Ruritan Club was started in Holland, Virginia, in 1928 as a local community service organization, and the Windsor Ruritan Club was chartered shortly thereafter in May 1932.
“Ruritan Clubs have served America with fellowship, goodwill and community service,” officials stated in the listing. “Last year the Windsor Ruritan Club donated over $19,000 to local organizations that include and are not limited to the following: C.A.P.S, Western Tidewater Free Clinic, Meals on Wheels, Boys Scouts, BSA Eagle Projects, Boys and Girls State, American Cancer Society, Future Business Leaders of America, Cheer Fund and libraries (and) high school scholarships, just to name a few.”
