Can Someone Please Explain This?

Hello, this is the "New Guy" in Cedar Rapids asking another dumb question:

Do you know what the deal is with this Green Pig from Holbrook, IA?

I love learning about local pop culture history -- the kind of stuff you don't get on Wikipedia. I found this colorful photo on the Facebook page Cedar Rapids History. It's a great page of local pop culture from days gone by. The newspaper headlines and photos are like a time capsule of memories just waiting to be discovered.

So I simply MUST ask: Are you familiar with the story behind "Ye Old Green Pig"? According to the Facebook comments, it was a parade favorite. But why? Was it a nod to the Dr. Seuss book "Green Eggs and Ham"? Or maybe it was a mascot to a local business?

One thing is for certain, I will not rest until I discover the significance of this colorful, cute bovine Babe. If you have any memories of the Green Pig that you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you!