3/30/2012:
British poet and painter Edward Lear is remembered as the creator of the form and meter of the modern limerick. He published his first book of poems, A Book of Nonsense, in 1846. Limericks generally follow an AABBA rhyming format. Often used humorously, sometimes crass, but usually clever, limericks remain familiar even today.
So when, in March of 1938, the State Mill and Elevator at Grand Forks sponsored a limerick advertising competition, the customers of Dakota Maid flour both in and out of the state put on their thinking hats and got creative. There were some good facts to draw inspiration from. The North Dakota Mill and Elevator Association began in 1922 to produce value-added products using wheat grown in North Dakota. Before its existence, the primary flour mills and grain exchange were in Minneapolis, and shipping rates were taken off of the price, affecting the profit. The North Dakota Mill helped the farmers receive a better price.
More than five thousand entries were received in this contest from every county in North Dakota and many other states. A. J. Scott, manager of the mill, expressed appreciation for the hundreds of testimonial letters that accompanied the contest entries.
Judges for the event were Floyd Jennings, executive director of the State Planning Board; Bernard Majors, publicity director of the State Welfare Board, and O. R. Griffin, news director at KFYR radio.
By this date in 1938, the winners were chosen and announced. Mrs. Paul Carothers of Jamestown took first place. Her complete limerick was “Wheat of high grade—Union made—By thousands okeyed—That’s Dakota Maid.”
Second place winner was from Wisconsin and the third place winner was from Larimore. Twenty-five entrants received packages of Dakota Maid Buckwheat Pancake flour.
Dakota Datebook written by Sarah Walker
Sources:
The Max Enterprise, Thursday, March 31, 1938, p1