Boerne champion goes whole hog in Ham Rodeo

She and teammate secure heavyweight title

BANDERA — A Boerne resident and her competition partner figuratively brought home the bacon Saturday at the 2026 annual Ham Rodeo after winning the title of heavyweight champion.

Returning ti t leholder Kortni Langlinais secured a victory at just 6.72 seconds with her partner, Grace Freeman of College Station.

The annual Ham Rodeo at Mansfield Park, organized by Bandera Wranglers, involves two-person teams capturing a hog, placing it in a sack and crossing a line for the fastest time.

There are three divisions: lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight.

“I’ve been doing this since I could walk,” said Langlinais, originally from Bandera but living in Boerne since 2008. “I competed in things like touch the pig and catch the pig, and now I compete in the heavyweight division.”

Langlinais has received 30 buckles in wrangling hog competitions but said it’s hard to pin down a winning technique.

“I don’t even know,” she said. “Sometimes it’s a game of luck.”

Langlinais has no plans to stop.

“I plan on competing again at next year’s Ham Rodeo,” she said. “It’s my favorite day of the year.”

Although the event has received criticism from animal rights organizations including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, organizers said the hogs are cared for and receive food and water.

Sponsors for the event included HyoSilver and Bandera County resident Dennis Fitzgerald.

“This is great for the community and for the kids,” Fitzgerald said. “(It’s) good, wholesome entertainment and (an) opportunity to see their critters somewhere other than on a plate.”

Event photographer Barry Wickham hailed the rodeo as a success.

“Seeing all the folks come out from around town, then the ones who make the extra mile to come out here competing in this event annually, even a few new and curious folks from the city came out to try their hand at a hog run,” Wickham said. “That is what makes it all worthwhile.”

Other winners included: lightweight — Braxton Landers and Cash Keller of Bandera at 9.09 seconds; and middleweight Kenji Huynh of Ingram and Kaylani Ritter from Centerpoint at 13.97 seconds.

To learn about next year’s rodeo, email bandera.wranglers@ gmail.com.