Instead of simply asking for donations, the Alpha Zeta, an agricultural fraternity, is pursuing an unconventional method of fundraising to promote Agricultural Awareness Week.

Rather than holding a car wash or bake sale, the fraternity is collecting donations in return for forcing a university official to kiss pigs.

Among the people who have offered up their names, and lips, in support of the cause are Chancellor Randy Woodson, Student Body President Kelly Hook, and football coach Tom O’Brien. Students can vote for who they’d like to see pucker up to a pig by putting money in specific jars bearing the candidates’ names. Students can cast their vote who they want to kiss the pigs by dropping money into the jars.

Whichever candidate’s jar hold the most money at noon Thursday, when the contest ends, has to kiss the pigs.

According Lauren Lanier, Agriculture Awareness Week organizer and junior in agricultural business management, Alpha Zeta was looking to try something new.

“We do a fundraiser for this every year, usually a raffle,” Lanier said. “This year, we wanted to try something different and this seemed like a great idea.”

Lanier said the proceeds from fundraisers during Agriculture Awareness Week typically go to fund the event. In light of the natural disasters in Japan and the heavy need for aid, Alpha Zeta decided they wanted to do something to help since they did not have a dire need for the money.

“If this had happened to us, we would want someone to be willing to help us,” Lanier said. “This disaster has affected their agriculture industry in a lot of ways as well as their everyday life, so it’s good that we have an opportunity to help.”

According to Lanier, while Alpha Zeta is looking to increase awareness about agricultural issues, they also are hoping to increase awareness of their event.

“We just want to make people aware of this event,” Lanier said. “The more we can get word out, the more likely we are to have people come and donate.”

The fundraiser brought in about $60 on Monday, and Lanier said Alpha Zeta is hoping to raise as much money as possible for relief efforts in Japan.

Lauren Weeks, a junior in poultry science and head of the fundraising committee for Ag Week, said part of the allure of this event is the involvement of the N.C. State faculty.

“This fundraiser is a great way for faculty and staff at N.C. State to get involved,” Weeks said. “Students like to see that people in charge are actually involved and interested in campus life and this is a good way to do that.”

Weeks said during her time researching unique fundraising opportunities, the idea of having officials kiss pigs not only fit that criteria, it also would use some of N.C. State’s agricultural resources.

“I saw that idea and thought, we have pigs.  This could be a really fun idea,” Weeks said.

But it seems some of the candidates aren’t standing idly by waiting for students to decide their fate.

According to Weeks, Chancellor Woodson stopped by the table taking donations on Monday afternoon to put money in Kelly Hook’s jar.

As of Tuesday morning, Tim O’Brien was winning the race with Kelly Hook coming in at a close second. 

But all in all, Weeks said this light-hearted event is meant to be a fun way to raise money and awareness for a serious cause.

“This is a great way for us to raise awareness about agriculture and have some fun.  I hope it does well,” Weeks said.