Picture this: it’s October 1984, and the students of Hastings College, Nebraska, are probably just going about their day, heading to classes and planning their weekend activities. That is, until a surprise guest shakes things up at Weyer Hall—one with a snout and an oinking personality.
Yep, we’re talking about a pig.
As if the plot of a college comedy movie had come to life, a large pig was apparently dropped off at the north entrance of the men’s dormitory, courtesy of some mysterious pig-delivering driver. In what must’ve been a mixture of confusion and sheer disbelief, the students and the dorm’s resident counselor, Katherine Tinder, were left to figure out what to do with their surprise visitor. Tinder described how residents quickly banded together to wrangle the rogue pig into the entryway, trapping it while they waited for backup.
And that’s where a young Tim Walz comes into play.
Tim Walz, who was 20 years old at the time and working as an animal control officer, got the call to handle the four-legged intruder. Armed with a rope and maybe a good deal of patience, Walz arrived on the scene ready for action. But this wasn’t a one-man job; pigs, as you might know, aren’t exactly the easiest animals to guide around. So, naturally, Walz recruited a couple of farm-raised college boys to lend a hand.
With the students giving the pig a friendly nudge from behind, and Walz leading the charge with his rope in hand, they managed to maneuver the hefty creature into a waiting truck. Crisis averted. College may have taught these students about biology, philosophy, and literature—but on that day, they also learned something about pig wrangling.
Tim Walz, who would later go on to become the governor of Minnesota, might’ve never guessed that his early career would involve a pig-rescue mission at a college dormitory, but there you have it. It’s one of those quirky moments in small-town history that leaves a lasting impression.
So, next time you think about the random adventures of your youth, just remember that at 20 years old, Tim Walz was out there saving the day with a rope, some students, and a pig.
