Within Stern Rubber’s backyard, there are hundreds of things to do, no matter the season, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, boating, and golf, to name a few. Yet, one unique summer event draws huge crowds to a small town just outside of Staples, and that is the Leader Pig races.
Leader, which is located about 20 miles northeast of Staples, is home to the Bears Den Bar and Grill. This establishment has a creative twist to the normal small town bar atmosphere. Beginning in late May and going until Labor Day, Bears Den owner Gary Dauer hosts the crowd pleasing pig races, every Friday and Saturday night. This event started over 15 years ago, as a way to draw more people to the small town of Leader, and since then has grown into an event on many families’ summer calendars. The show consists of a series of fun events lasting about 2-3 hours, geared toward kids and families, while also offering a little adult humor and fun for all.
This fun weekly event is much more than just racing pigs, and offers other fun activities including a hula hoop contest, jump rope, redneck horseshoes, and a crowd favorite: bouncy horse racing, which leads to some humorous spills and thrills. Of course, the races would not be complete without the main event, the racing of the “LA Racing Piggies.” The races consist of 4-5 piglets, running through the custom made track, while crowd favorite and bar owner, Gary gives some fun and humorous commentary. The show is a Minnesota favorite, and offers the opportunity for parents and their kids to get out and enjoy a fun evening.
The LA racing pigs do not spend all their time in just Leader, Minnesota. Throughout the year, Gary and his race team travel around the state, displaying their talents at county fairs and other community gatherings. Nothing brought the LA racing team into the spotlight more, than when Gary headed south to Marshall, Texas in 2012 to try to set the Texas state record on a quarter mile track, while offering the audience a very memorable show. Gary and his pig racing team set the state record (although there was not one previously established), and also gave the fans a show they never will forget, just as he does every Minnesota summer.
So if you are ever in central Minnesota in the summer, head over to the Bears Den, and check out the LA pig races. It is worth the drive!