A POULTRY SHOW IN MULLEN

by H.C.H. Society

Entry T94 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Although March of 1926 was rather an
uncomfortable day to hold a poultry show,
fully 2,000 people were present in Mullen to
greet the Burlington Special Poultry Train
when it pulled in at 1:30. The Band struck up
an air that put the spice of life into the vast
throng and started everything to going. They
led the march to the opera house where
within a few minutes the interesting program
of the day got underway.

A.G. Humphrey, chairman of the village
board, made a short welcoming address, after
which C.C. Campbell introduced F.L. Taylor,
assistant agricultural agent of the Bur-
lington, and with a few introductory remarks,
Mr. Taylor discussed poultry. There was a
judging of 25 or more exhibits. These were
carefully judged by officials of the State
Agricultural Department. Mrs. John Vinton
won the 1st prize of $5 given by The Citizens
State Bank. Mrs. E.C. Pickett won the $3
given by W.H. Wigent for 2nd place. The 3rd
prize given by the City Barber Shop, went to
Mrs. A.R. Olson and the last prize of $1.50
given by M.M. Peterson went to Maxine
Garrett. There were 6 prizes given by Senk
Merc. Co. for the best essays on Poultry by
Grade School pupils, awarded in the order
given as follows: Inez O'Brien, Altha Burnett,
Berniece Canida, Velma Pickett, Lenore
Dietrich, Chester Campbell and - ? Wines-
teer.

More than 1,740 people passed through the
special train to view the exhibit and the
special talks of those in charge. The Commer-
cial Club was instrumental in bringing the
exhibits to Mullen.

A free show started at 7:30, after which the
dance, men's beauty contest and the old
fiddler's contest were held. A special prize
was given by C.C. Campbell and also J.J.
Motl to the winners of the Men's contest; a
pair of silk "bloomers" and a bottle of
perfume. These were won by B.G. Eivins Jr.
and Dr. Walker.

The winners of the Old Fiddlers contest
was won by Wm Stierlen, a $5 pair of shoes
by the Sand Hills Commercial Co. Frank
LeLaCheur a purebred Barred Rock Rooster
by Otto Pearson. G.W. Johnson a $2.25 throw
rope by Steve Yagadich. Albert Berzina and
G.A. Johnson each $1.50. The 2 prizes offered
by Motl's Drug Store for the 2 best cartoons
drawn by Mullen High School and Grade
School were won by David Walker of High
School and the 2nd & 3rd grade of the Revere
School near Hecla, Nebraska.

The dance broke up at 2 o'clock in the
morning. It was the largest crowd ever
gathered in the opera house. The $3 picture
offered by Dave Wright to the party deliv-
ering the greatest number of pounds of butter
fat to his station on poultry day was carried
off by Tom Kyser.