Christian Peterson reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Daisy the pig is slowly becoming a well-known name in Florida and across the United States. She is known by a few other names: Daisy the reading pig, Daisy the potbelly pig and Daisy Minor. Daisy has spent years on a mission to share her love and enjoyment of reading with children all over the United States. Daisy is owned by Paul and Vicky Minor, two members of Advent Christian Village. For over 20 years, the trio, occasionally accompanied by two pugs, Lily Pug and Dixie Cup, traveled the country teaching children about reading across the country. Currently, Daisy has visited 48 out of the 50 states and usually attends upwards of 300 shows a year. The program is called “Pig-out on Reading.” “In her shows, you’ll find stories about her adventures and fellow pigs alike,” says the Advent Christian Village website. “She also enjoys helping raise money by giving a kiss to the individual who raises the most money for the cause. Collectively, Daisy is believed to have helped raise over $150,000 for various groups.” “Not only does Daisy promote reading to children, but she also offers a great listening ear. She receives letters, coloring pages, postcards and books from friends she has made during shows. In addition to receiving fan mail, Daisy has been gifted the key to the city in five different cities and was privileged to be the first pig ever to be invited inside the U.S. Capitol. With over 1,400 library cards, it’s safe to say Daisy is one popular lady. With the help of Paul, ‘Farmer Minor,’ she travels in block schedules to maximize the number of children they can greet in each location. Often, they will stay in an area for weeks at a time and visit several schools, libraries and city officials all in one stay.” Of course, while children are incredibly valuable, sometimes those on the other end of the age divide are forgotten. That is not the case for Daisy, though; she is ready and willing to spread her love to everyone. On Tuesday, Dec. 10, Daisy took a trip to Good Samaritan in Advent Christian Village to visit the residents and offer them a kiss. Her favorite books are ones about pigs or other farm animals. The residents clearly enjoyed the arrival of the pig and a moment to share with an animal.