Brown County Icon Series #001: “Notcher” Average Pig
George Seckman stood on his farm as he let the silence of the early morning settle over him. It did feel more empty than the day before, a void that was about 1,120 pounds, to be exact.
It’s never easy to let go of a beloved animal, but Mr. Seckman knew it would be the hardest farewell of all. He was laying to rest a legend.
As the crisp air filled his lungs, so too did the memories of his Grand Champion Duroc boar. Tip Top Notcher baffled judges even as a young pig, his weight far
exceeding the average. Mr. Seckman knew he had something special–and fed Tip whatever he wanted, with little to no restrictions.
The claim to fame skyrocketed when Tip Top Notcher tipped the scales at a staggering 1,120 pounds at the St. Louis World’s Fair, leaving the judges, event goers, and fellow participants stunned. But none more than George Seckman himself. The Illinois Rural Electric News dubbed him a “Super Hog.”
They had made it.
Over the years, Tip sired many piglets for others who had big plans and high hopes they would recreate the grand champion, but none could compare to our very own Tip Top. He lived his life of leisure: dining on scraps, pulling along a custom cart specially designed for him to haul one to two passengers, and enjoying the company of the family who adored him.
Eventually, Mr. Seckman sold his dear Tip for $5,000, which would be the equivalent to $176,000 today. But the next three years would go down as being those filled with regret and sorrow for our poor farmer. When George learned that Tip had suffered an injury that left him crippled, he arranged a reunion with his old friend. Unable to resist the ties of a deep-rooted bond, he repurchased his boar and brought him back home.
Back on the land where he had grown (and grown!), the Seckmans did all they could to keep Tip comfortable until he crossed the rainbow bridge fit for a king over 1,000 pounds.
He was laid to rest shortly after, and later relocated to a spot where we can still pay tribute to him–off the U.S. Route 24. There, under a shade tree, stands a 3 ½ foot white granite obelisk that reads:
“Tip Top Notcher. Grand Champion. St. Louis. 1904.”
You can stand where George Seckman once stood, as he recounted his time with Tip, giving pats to the dirt in hopes his friend could feel them in the great beyond.