ABATE's Hog Fest
By Jackson Day
Published in the Glenrock Independent Aug. 2, 2023
Published in the Glenrock Independent Aug. 2, 2023
Hundreds of bikers filled the Glenrock South Recreation Complex with the sounds of roaring engines and loudly-spoken innuendos as they partied for three days straight.
The leather-clad motorcycle aficionados rolled into town for the Wyoming Central ABATE’s (A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments) Hog Fest July 28-30.
“I wouldn’t classify it as a rally, it’s really a get-together. It’s a lot of local people getting together to hang out, have some fun and get to know each other,” Hog Fest veteran Erick Holden said.
Many of the bikers who gathered together said it feels like they’re part of a tightly-knit biker family, which is somewhat ironic considering Hog Fest is anything but family-friendly.
“You’re always going to see the people you’ve met before and you’ll get to meet new people. It’s like a family,” Holden said. “I came to my first Hog Fest about 12 years ago. I’ve been coming pretty consistently since… I came down not really knowing what I was getting myself into, but I met a lot of new people and made new friends. That really kept me coming back.”
The weekend’s festivities included bike shows, multiple musical concerts, a wet T-shirt contest, burn out competitions and raffle drawings. For many, the weekend’s highlight was the bike rodeo.
“It’s not a serious rodeo, but it’s hilarious. They get goofy about it,” WCA President Allan Dike said. “We do (an event) called, ‘Honey, I’m home.’ We have this window frame-type thing and a couple on a mattress. They’ll hear, “Honey, I’m home,” then the guy’s got to jump up, put his (boots) on, jump out the window onto his bike and hit the finish line.”
This year’s Hog Fest was particularly special as it was dedicated to former WCA President Michael Harrison, better known as Mileage, who passed away last year after a motorcycle accident.
Mileage started Hog Fest because, “he wanted to have a good time,” Dike said.
“He used to be a partier and then even when he quit partying, well, . . . ” Dike said before cutting himself off, to avoid saying too much. “He was quite the character. He loved to do his Hog Fest.”
Seemingly everyone who had been to Hog Fest in past years knew Mileage. And, many said his presence was sorely missed.
“I knew Mileage. Not on a very personal level, but every time I was here he’d always be sure to come and talk with me. He’d always make sure I knew he knew I was here,” Holden said. “Even before I really started to be part of the events and be in the shows, he still made a point to introduce himself and let us know, ‘If you need a hand, I’m right over here.’
“I can’t think that a single person here would have anything bad to say about him because every time I saw him, he was trying to be a positive influence in everything he did. You can really see it from the way this whole event is put together. The attitude that’s here comes from that culture that he started off as, ‘We’re here to be friends and family.’ Everyone mirrors that here and learned it from him.”
On the evening of June 29 a brief memorial service was held honoring Mileage and other friends who have since passed on. Emulating a tradition common among law enforcement, first responders and the military of ringing a bell in memory of the fallen, members of the audience shouted names of friends as master of ceremony Sandy Enger rang a bell.
“There’s a real brotherhood, much like military brothers and sisters that you serve with,” Enger said. “It’s that same reverence and that same brotherhood that we’re honoring. When we do the bell ringing ceremony, we honor those that have gone before us whether by motorcycle accident, cancer or whatever it might be – because we are family. It’s a real bond.”
The WCA bikers welcome anybody and everybody, who’s at least 21 years old, to head out and enjoy the gathering in years to come.
“Bikers are the nicest people in the world. People here will literally give you the shirt off their back as long as you give them the same respect and you’re a good person,” Holden said. “ The biggest fee you should have showing up to an event like this is pretending to be someone you’re not. We don’t care who you are or what you do, so you don’t have to lie about who you are. Just show up, be yourself and you’ll get along with everyone.”
First time Hog Fest-goer Michelle Houser expressed that although she was hesitant to attend at first, Hog Fest was a great experience.
“I still feel as much as welcome even though I don’t know much about bikes,” Houser said. “I’ve only been on a bike for a month-and-a-half. I used to be super scared when my boyfriend got me on the back of his bike. Bringing me here to introduce me to his friends and other bikers has been amazing so far and helped me feel even more comfortable."