Video: watson/Emanuella Kälin
April 26, 2026, 2:45 p.mApril 26, 2026, 3:14 p.m
Let it all go: In a strange competition at an agricultural fair in Tartu, Estonia, around a dozen participants competed in imitating pig sounds. On an open-air stage, the pig impersonators squealed and grunted for all they were worth – and as authentically as possible. The winner of the swinish competition was local hero Andrus Maileht.
Video: watson/Emanuella Kälin
“It just came out of me,” Maileht revealed his secret to success to the German Press Agency after his victory. As a prize for his porky performance, which was loudly applauded by the audience in attendance, the Estonian took home a voucher for half a pig and sausage products.
Who is the biggest pig?
The winner was chosen by a jury consisting of representatives of the Estonian pig farming industry, who evaluated the participants based on criteria such as authenticity, strength and entertainment value. Sound, presentation and humor – all of that mattered. The more memorable, the better. “You have to be brave, happy and enthusiastic,” said organizer Made Britta Eensalu.
“The main criterion is the emotional criterion,” said jury member Aare Kalson to the dpa. What was crucial for him was that the winner’s appearance was “very professional”. When he closed his eyes, he couldn’t tell whether he was on a pig farm or an exhibition area. “I really felt like I was on a farm,” Kalson said.
Entertaining competition with a serious background
Eensalu was also full of praise for Maileht, who said he heard about the competition on the radio and prepared for it for around three days: “It was clear to me that he had really made an effort to show people something special. And I think the audience felt that very well,” said the manager of the pig farm, Vasula Lihatöötus.
The competition in Estonia’s second largest city was held for the first time this year – with a very serious background. This was intended to draw attention to the difficult situation of pig farmers in Estonia. “The idea of this competition is to put pigs in the spotlight, to bring them into people’s consciousness,” said Eensalu. “Many people don’t know how pigs actually make sounds.” (sda/dpa)