WILSON — The anticipation in the Wilson School commons Feb. 12 was almost palpable as students took seats to await the start of the day.

Soon, Ted Long, the school counselor, arrived. Then a chorus of young voices began to chant — “kiss the pig, kiss the pig, kiss the pig.”

The chant was soft at first, then grew louder as Long made his way to the center of the commons.

After a short wait, Long was joined by Stephanie Laack, the school vocational agriculture teacher. In her arms Laack carried the morning’s main attraction — Bacon, a Hereford pig.

Without fanfare, Long reached down and kissed Bacon as he had promised the students he would do.

That promise was the reward students received for collecting pennies for patients.

“It’s something Wilson School has done every year,” Long said. “It’s a very important local cause to help students that may have leukemia and lymphoma. And it’s a cause young kids can easily get behind.”

He said the Kiss a Pig Contest came about because the organizers of the local pennies for patients collection drive wanted to do something a little different this year.

Every student in the school voted on the top five staff members, including the cooks and library staff, they wanted to see kiss a pig. The teacher whose box collected the most money was the one who would pucker up.

“I guess I came out on top,” Long said.

Students raised $214.

Other staff members in the running were Meghan Zelenka, science teacher; Tony Brokes, athletic director; Justine Dlabal, fourth grade teacher; and Randy Fox, principal.

Long said there were a few bills thrown in the boxes, but mostly pennies.

“That says the kids are very thoughtful, they are very supportive of the cause, and that they care,” he added.

The money was sent to the Pennies for Patients office in Kansas City to be allocated for research and treatments.

“The money is always kept locally — usually in county — if there are students with that unfortunate disease,” Long said. “That’s one of the best parts about the organization.”

“I think it’s a really good thing to raise money for childhood cancer,” Laack said. “And to get them (the students) excited and get them into philanthropy, community service and doing things for other people.”

“I think it’s a great thing for our kids to support something greater than themselves,” Principal Fox said, adding many of the elementary school age students may not know where their money is going, but they know it is helping those less fortunate and those battling cancer.

“I think it’s incredible,” said Shawna Pack of Dorrance, who owns Bacon along with her husband, Adam. “It’s always nice to see fundraisers and everything like that to help kids.”

The Packs own Swan Creek Hereford Show Pigs.

As Long anticipated his obligation to kiss Bacon, he admitted he felt a little nervous.

“I’ve had kids all week constantly reminding me, hey, you get to kiss a pig on Wednesday,” he said. “But it’s been a good deal. The kids did a great job raising the money and that’s what it’s all about.”