By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

NORTH SHELBY—Oak Mountain Elementary School Principal Debbie Horton stayed true to her word and concluded the school’s annual field day by kissing a pig on Friday, April 24.

After a morning of fun activities and friendly competition, students gathered on the field behind the school to watch Horton kiss a pig, the reward for meeting their Boosterthon fundraising goal of $68,000.

Field day is an annual tradition at OMES. The school-wide event features a variety of outdoor races and games, including water relays, three-legged races, sack races and tug-of-war for second and third grade students.

“It’s the beauty of elementary school, it’s just part of what we do,” OMES physical education teacher Sallie Youngblood said.

Field day reinforces qualities such as “sportsmanship and bluebird best” in a fun atmosphere, Youngblood explained.

Coordinating and running the event takes advanced planning and community support, McGowan and OMES physical education teacher Allen McGowan explained. Continued parent involvement helps make field day a success year after year.

“Parents run each station… we couldn’t do it without the parents,” Youngblood said. “We had a mom that was here and this was her 11th field day… for another mom, it was her 12th.”