Floyd of Rosedale.

Floyd of Rosedale: Famous Pig

Fort Dodge, Iowa

Before Floyd of Rosedale became a pig-shaped intercollegiate football trophy, he was a real pig, owned by Allen Loomis. He lived on a Rosedale Farm, not far from the site of the 14-foot-high steel sculpture that bears his name.

The 1935 rivalry game between the University of Minnesota and the University of Iowa was tainted by bigotry on the part of some white players, so the two state governors decided to defuse the situation by betting a live pig on the outcome. Iowa lost, and gave up Floyd, named for winning governor Floyd Olson. The presence of the pig somehow resolved the racial tensions, and "Floyd of Rosedale" became a pig-shaped trophy that is still swapped between the two teams.

The odd story was regarded as so compelling that Fort Dodge decided to erect the big steel pig, sculpted by Dale Merrill, in 2021.

Floyd of Rosedale: Famous Pig

Address:: 1111 N. 32nd St., Fort Dodge, IA
Directions:: Northeast edge of town, on the northeast corner of 10th Ave. N. and N. 32nd St. Park in the Rosedale Rapids Aquatic Center lot.

Nearby Offbeat Places

Replica Cardiff Giant, Fort Dodge, IA - 3 mi.

Fay Hessain Fountain, Humboldt, IA - 14 mi.

Frank Gotch, Wrestling Superstar, Humboldt, IA - 15 mi.

In the region:

Sac County Freedom Rock - Tunnel Rat, Sac City, IA - 43 mi.

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