8/27/2008:
If you heard Dakota Datebook on August 22, you heard a tale of tongue-in-cheek newspaper advertising, and legion fundraising in a search for some lost chickens that raised residents’ attention across the summer of 1945. The goal, however, was very serious: Money was to go to a party for the area servicemen, once they returned. No chickens turned up, of course, so they looked for other ideas.
One farmer wrote to the Ashley post of the American Legion, having read about the chickens all summer, and he not only offered up two of his own chickens, he said he thought that local farmers and townspeople would be glad to supply a chicken to the Legion. Moreover, he said that since they “used to have … give-a-way days in Ashley years ago, … why not have something like that next month?”
Therefore, a Chicken Day was planned for September 26. Money raised would go to a huge county-wide celebration fund for returned veterans.
People who wanted to could supply chickens, and each donor would get a ticket for each chicken. Cash prizes ranging from 1 dollar to 50 dollars would be drawn on Chicken Day. A ten dollar award would also be given to the biggest hen that came in. (Roosters were also accepted, but did not count toward this reward.) Money for prizes and necessary expenses was contributed to the cause by business and professional men of Ashley.
The American Legion advertised for it as “Victory Chicken Day,” reminding that the money went for returning veterans, who, it was guessed, would likely be back for the big party by the next summer.
Everyone was cooperating with them, and even the weather was fine on Chicken Day. However, that proved to be a downfall, as farmers took advantage of the weather to do some threshing of their fields, not taking the time to go to town.
The Legion did not make much money from the event, so they promised to make another announcement in the future as to the raising of money for funding their celebration. Any farmer wishing to donate “the equivalent of a chicken in cash” was, of course, still able to do so. Nonetheless, those who came seemed to have a good time. The ten dollar prize went for a 7-pound, 14-ounce hen, and other cash prizes were given out.
And the chickens were happy, too.
Sources:
The Ashley Tribune and the Wishek News, Thursday, August 30, 1945
The Ashley Tribune and the Wishek News, Thursday, September 20, 1945, p. 1, 3
The Ashley Tribune and the Wishek News, Thursday, September 27, 1945