The boy videotaped lashing a pig at the Iowa State Fair was helping his family move the animal and was not an FFA competitor, a top fair official said this week.

As a result, the Iowa State Fair Board will not take action against the 11-year-old, said Gary Slater, fair manager and CEO.

The video taken by Des Moines resident Wheaten Mather on the first Friday of the fair — held from Aug. 8 to Aug. 18 — triggered an outcry from those concerned about the gilt, who had visible lash marks on her head.

It also triggered questions about how fair police reacted, banning Mather and two friends for life after he confronted Slater and fair marking director Mindy Williamson on the fair’s final Sunday.

About 150,000 people read an Aug.was busy.

“(Mather) was drinking a beer at the time and being very, very forceful,” Slater said.

Slater said he didn’t know if Mather was drunk, but he “downed” the beer in his hand quickly.

“(Marketing Director) Mindy (Williamson) was shaken by it afterward, and that’s when I called security. I didn’t tell them to do anything. But he was even more belligerent to them, and they made their decision.”

Mather on Wednesday criticized fair officials for trying to "diminish my character," and said he had had two beers and was not intoxicated.

He said Slater was not agreeing to a private meeting, and he felt the fair did not have adequate enforcement in place.

"I was legitimately contributing to a conversation, trying to point out their weak points," he said.

He said Slater and