Poultry Days
poultry day festival versailles ohio celebrates heritage poultry producing industry versailles date back early one time versailles called poultry capital world festival began officially possibly earlier oneday community picnic evolved threeday festival village versailles hold festival annually versailles high school giant beer tent erected one main artery village ride parade contest held including miss chick contest high school age young lady little miss poultry day contest girl age – world famous poultry day barbecue chicken dinner served festival noted creation gigantic omelette cooked dozen egg day festival also includes one world largest ultimate tournament jeff warrick poultry day ultimate classic dale wilker friend started tournament two team honor grown include dozen team united state internationally george wendt norm peterson cheer came versailles act honorary festival leader came thank wick versailles high school counselor successfully created campaign save cheer canceled first season duty festival leader wendt went around local bar drank patron poultry day festival began single day event held thursday referred poultry day first festival small community focused grew quickly drawing visitor surrounding community far dayton day expanded twoday event wednesday thursday festival moved making weekend event held friday saturday expansion included everpresent carnival ride finally annual poultry day festival expanded threeday event held friday saturday sunday poultry day settled held second full weekend june selection food available festival evolved throughout year choice included egg smorgasbord turkey noodle turkey burger deviled egg barbequed chicken finally served throughout entire festival first dinner cost included half chicken roll butter chip cranberry salad pickle choice coffee pop took approximately volunteer construct operate bbq pit chicken dinner outgrown capacity local volunteer partnership began nelson bbq formerly known portapit partnership continues third generation nelson family providing chicken poultry day remains single largest annual event early chicken serving line run “the lady serving committee” men ran barbecue pit drivethrough line added enhancement culminated smooth running operation averaged dinner served per hour peak nearly dinner per hour dinner every second first “miss chick” bonnie sue besecker laura ohio crowned festival continued recognize vibrant dynamic young woman pageant drawn many contestant throughout ohio beyond requiring extensive judging process begin festival today event limited young lady darke surrounding county new tradition born trisha rhoades became festival first “little miss poultry days” early colonel warner nichols added grand parade organized death time john “red” elson took red went start successful antique car parade run dickman family late versailles fire department took organizing grand parade continued nearly year parade continue today draw excess unit annually making among largest parade region honorary grand parade marshall position awarded community leader recognized contribution volunteerism community early poultry day attempted break world record largest egg omelet another attempt culminated omelet measured nearly foot diameter required egg pound onion pound ham combined concrete mixer custombuilt omelet pan exhibit many year ultimate frisbee tournament started giant chicken float first made appearance late originally purchased versailles development association promote versailles annual chicken painting street intersection started welcome visitor town later designate board member festival vip creation festival theme began beer tent established area first official social tent serving beer closed state highway year festival entertainment ranged orchestra modern band group versailles friend organized first poultry day ultimate frisbee championship hometown team blue meany beat diamond dawgs dayton grudge match previous year annual tournament grown become top tournament one three “bucket list” tournament drawing several thousand player friend versailles year player around united state international team made pilgrimage versailles experienced warm welcome resident business event originally named poultry day ultimate tournament changed jeff warrick poultry day ultimate class jeff warrick dan goubeaux succumbed leukemia point forward money raised tournament donated leukemia lymphoma society america event developed tradition including egg eating contest charity strong connection miss chick pageant ultimate player vie miss chick choose “mr cluck” july poultry day dedicated heritage park originally intended new location festival project evolved acre park including pond walking track shelter house sport field park also home several thousand ultimate player summer poultry day continues fund park independent heritage park board established oversee maintain park poultry day donated excess past year though versailles resident poultry day attracts crowd exceeding people course festival weekend record dinner festival quickly approaching one millionth dinner sold due covid pandemic inperson festival canceled chicken dinner still available drivethru pickup official website jeff warrick poultry day ultimate classic poultry day documentary