Ultimate Washington Football Team Fan and retired Hogette joins the All-Star Line-up at the Partlow Insurance Sports Breakfast

The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® is delighted to announce that retired Hogette, Nickette will make a special appearance and speak to fans at the Partlow Insurance Sports Breakfast on Saturday morning, May 1, 2021, from 8:00-10:00 am, at the Frederick County Fairgrounds.

Nick Nerangis a.k.a “Nickette Hogette,” is a Super Fan of the Washington Football Team. Although now retired, The Hogettes, were a group of fans wearing floral dresses, blonde wigs, big floppy hats and pig snouts. Over the years they helped raise millions of dollars for National Capital Children’s Charities, including Ronald McDonald House, March of Dimes, Children’s Miracle Network and multiple children’s hospitals. The Hogettes have been honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and VISA as “Ultimate Washington Football Team Fans” in the Hall of Fans in Canton, Ohio.

The Hogettes began in 1983 when Michael Torbert, later named “Mikey T.Boss Hogette” went to a Halloween party at his grandmother’s retirement home and wore one of her dresses. He was such a hit that night that on November 27, 1983, he led a group of men, all in costume to a Washington Football Team game. An addition of a pig snout was added to the costume in reference to The Hogs, the nickname of the Washington Football Team’s offensive line players in the 1980’s.

In 1995, at an annual fundraiser to benefit the Ronald McDonald House, Nick’s wife, Kathy bid on an item to become a guest Hogette at a Washington Football Team game. Kathy surprised her husband, Nick on Christmas Eve with the gift of being a Hogette for a Day! Being a longtime fan of the Washington Football Team, he was thrilled. That afternoon, Nick donned one of Kathy’s old dresses, bought a wig and white hat and was given an official hog nose. It was a freezing cold Christmas Eve game, and Nick could not have been happier with the experience and ultimate Christmas gift. Nick was officially invited to become “Nickette” Hogette after taking over as auctioneer at an annual event several years later featuring Washington Football Team players and raising money for the D.C. Ronald McDonald House.

The Hogettes made up to 100 appearances a year, including several appearances in the Grand Feature Parade of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, VA. While some of the charitable events went toward helping their local communities, most of the money raised went to help children’s charities. Events included the Hogettes annual charity golf tournament, walk-a-thons, truck rallies, galas, auctions and other charity benefits. Almost all of the Hogettes were veterans of military service. They continued serving their country after active duty by helping raise over $100 million dollars for children’s charities in over thirty years.