In 1920, my great-grandfather started one of the first chicken hatcheries in Mississippi, it was on the outskirts of the city where I grew up. Well, it was the outskirts then, now it is a very heavily populated area. He was famous for his fine chicks, no I am not talking about my great grandmother, but baby chicks as in poultry. Although my great grandmother was a beautiful southern belle, she was pretty chicky at times.
During his time in the poultry business, he won many awards and honors. For as long as I can remember, I would go into his home office and there was a huge trophy with a chicken on top. It was one of those things that as I grew older you look at it and think who has a big chicken trophy in their home? Last year, my grandfather who had been in the poultry business with my great grandfather and lived in the family home, passed away at 93 years old.
As we were going through the house and cleaning things out, there was the trophy in the same place in the office. What do you do with a chicken trophy? I am not sure Goodwill would have much use for it. So, in our family humor we decided that each year one member of the family would be awarded with "the chicken trophy". Big Buckaroo and I have had it for the first year. I am not sure why the only girl of the family would get it the first year, I am sure there are some chicken hiney jokes that flew around between my brothers. Or, it could be that we are the only ones who actually have chickens and they thought it was appropriate. We have laying hens and we run a couple of batches of pastured (organic) poultry each year. I know what you are thinking, how did a southern belle end up on a state park with chickens? I wonder the same thing every time I have to feed those pesky little peckers.
My little brother Chris is a wonderful guy, other people think this too I am not just saying this because I am his sister. For the past few years he has served as a leader at a Christian wilderness opportunity for young men who need a pause in life to discover who they are and what their purpose here on earth is all about. He has touched many lives and he is on fire for the Lord. He has now taken back up his profession of personal training but still helps out with the camp. I am very proud to be his sister, he has become a wonderful man.
So, over Thanksgiving when it was time to pass the trophy on, Big Buckaroo and I knew that we had to pass it on to Chris for his expertise in turkey (considered poultry) frying, sunflower seed pecking, spikey hair, fowl odors at times, loud crowing, and living life on the wings of angels. You are one fancy breed of chicken brother. Enjoy your reign as chicken man!
Chris, far right in the sunglasses, is the proud recipient of The Chicken Trophy for the year. Shine it up good bro for next years winner. No, I did not set the picture up so the chicken hiney was facing the camera, things just work out that way for me.
5 comments:
too funny!
You are so cool. I never thought I would have a friend with a chicken trophy AND a actual "chicken friend!" You are totally the poultry queen of the south!
mappersnapper.com
What a fun new tradition you have started with a family "heirloom" of sorts..not only will you have fun thinking of new ways to pass it on, but what a fun way to remember your grandfather as well! Too cool! And your brother sounds like a wonderful young man...The world needs more like him!
Stacie
This was too funny! I love stories like this!
What a great family tradition - love it!! My grandfather and aunt were "Big Chicken Farmers" here in Northern Ireland, but alas I have not heard of any chicken trophies being mentioned in any wills!!
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