Sampson County and visitors to our fair city have gone hog wild over the brightly painted and highly personable pigs that are now dotting our landscape.

It’s been a huge plus for the United Way of Sampson County, which sponsored the “Hog Wild” campaign, those who bought the pigs, the artists charged with bringing them to life and, in truth, the city of Clinton, whose officials graciously allowed many of them to be displayed around the downtown area.

Some are outside; others are being displayed in the windows of generous downtown business owners. All are an attraction that has gone even beyond what United Way “Hog Wild” organizers even dared hope.

People are constantly meandering through the downtown to look at the colorful creatures. Many leave the area’s newest restaurant and take a stroll along the sidewalk, stopping to gaze in the window where some of the pigs are nestled; others pull up alongside the courthouse, get out, walk right up to those on display and pose for a photograph or two with the priceless prodigies.

They are refreshing, fun, beautiful and, without question, a perfect drawing card to the downtown.

They’ve brought new life to the quaint beauty of our downtown with their vast array of colors and the little extras that have given each poultry pal a unique flair of their very own.

People seem to love them, and would-be vandals have, thankfully, stayed away from them, allowing the beauty of something special to last.

The project, itself, which culminates in October when some of the hogs will actually go on the auction block during the annual Court Square Festival, has proven a tremendous success, and it’s not even over yet.

It has certainly raised awareness of United Way’s efforts and the importance we place on agriculture in this community. But it’s gone far beyond that — it’s shown that out-of-the-box thinking can make a tremendous, and very positive, difference.

Since the pigs were placed downtown, United Way and city officials have received tons of positive phone calls and comments; some people have even expressed a desire to purchase a pig of their very own. It all proves what we’ve known since the project’s inception – it was a very worthwhile project that leaves a lasting impact.

What’s more, it should be a tell-tale sign to city officials that its planned public art project will be well received and should be just as much, if not more so, of a drawing card as the perky little pigs have been.

If you haven’t seen the pigs yet, it’s certainly worth a drive to downtown Clinton to do so. You’ll simply go wild over them.