It is time for the annual cow chipping.

 

Well, it is that time of the year: Chatham Jaycees Annual Sweet Corn and Cow Chipping Festival in Illinois.

Small communities like Chatham are gems. Generations gather to renew friendships and celebrate history.  While there are competitions of all sorts, nothing, but nothing, is as intense and delightful as the Cow Chipping Contest.

The whole process is fairly simple. From their cow pastures, farmers select dried cow pies of the correct size, using a toilet seat as the measuring standard. The pies are then donated to the Jaycees where they are kept in a secure place. I am not kidding.

(There have been some accusations about sabotage; pies have been embedded with pellets or such in the past.  So, security is provided. Yes, it is. Honest. There used to be security men wandering around.) 

Future chippers--not afraid to get their hands dirty

"This event will take place on July 21-23 at the Chatham sports field. Any attendees wishing to participate in the cow chipping throw should attend when the event is announced.  Experience is not necessary. All should understand that participation may result in pungent particulates adhering to hands and clothing."

This is a quote from 2019 flyers.

Competition is serious business.

This is an international sport. Visitors travel to participate in this event.

Pinterest.com

 

Being a farm girl who was never daunted by cow manure, I did this: 

 

Notice that the patty is the size of a toilet seat. This an important element in chipping contests.  Equal sizes, etc. Standards must be maintained.

 

 

 Note the intense concentration.

 

Cow patty's final resting place

I shellacked the daylights of this thing and took it home with me to California. I placed it in a dry area by the patio, where it was whole for 2 years. Not enough rain to speak of, so this managed to impress all who saw it. 

 

 

 

 

 

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