Piglets out, watermelons in at Sonoma County Fair

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KTVU) - Officials over the Sonoma County Fair have abandoned a decades-old tradition this year.

The Press Democrat reported Saturday that the 83-year-old county fair has eliminated the pig scramble from its lineup of events on Farmers Day. 

In the long-running event, kids between the ages of 5 and 10 chased and tried to wrangle piglets weighing 40 to 60 pounds. 

Fair board members cited rising public concern and protests over animal cruelty as the reason for the decision.

Instead, at this year's Aug. 4 event, kids will try to tote watermelons slicked with vegetable oil around an obstacle course in a timed race.