Will Cluck Dynasty break the Poultry Days Chicken Record?

John L's Note: Click the "read more" link to see a comprehensive schedule of events for this year's Poultry Days Festival.

On June 13th-15th, the annual Poultry Days Festival returns to the Village of Versailles. The festival theme of “Cluck Dynasty, Happy Happy Happy!” was selected by the 2014 Festival Chairman Shawn Peters and represents the true Cluck Dynasty which after 63 years is only getting stronger. Shawn has been on the Poultry Days Board of Directors for 9 years and has volunteered with Poultry Days for a total of 22 years. Shawn is the Technology Coordinator for Ansonia and Mississinawa Valley Local Schools and resides in Versailles with his wife Sandy and children Nathan and Cassie.

It has been over ten years since the record number of 26,101 chicken dinners was sold in 2002. However, in recent years sales have been steadily increasing with 24,196 dinners sold in 2013. It may require inviting an extra friend to the festival or it might be an excuse to eat another delicious dinner, either way a new record is possible for 2014. Each dinner comes with ½ a chicken, Mikesells chips, applesauce, the traditional orange drink and a dinner roll baked by the Versailles Sweet Shop.

The 2014 festival will include old favorites and plenty of new activities for the whole family. Poultry Days features two parades. The Grand Parade is at 11am on Saturday and is one of the largest parades in the area and, The Antique Car & Tractor Parade is at 2:30 pm on Sunday and is preceded by a car display. Harold and Deb Pohl have been selected as Honorary Parade Marshals. This year the Grand Parade will include a welcome home to Darke County Vietnam Veterans. A tribute event will follow at 5pm Saturday in the Versailles School Administration Building gym.

The Darke County Photography club will return to the festival with their photography competition. The 5k Run/Walk which is part of the Wayne Healthcare Darke County Challenge has grown each year and will take place on Saturday morning. Also, the Mister and Miss SuperFit challenge returns this year for anyone wanting to test their physical fitness. The Robots are back! Area high school students from FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) will conduct a robot demonstration that is sure to wow spectators on Sunday.

Poultry days will be hosting a number of exciting activities including, a Cornhole Tournament, FREE Kiddie Tractor Pulls, a 2-on-2 basketball tournament, flower show, cake & egg decorating contest, and the famous Miss Chick and Little Miss Poultry Days pageants. Interested in Reptiles? Valley Exotics will be at the festival with a Reptile Trailer, Petting Zoo, and Pony Rides. The Serendipity Moms will be hosting over 70 vendors on the grounds. K of C Bingo, tractor displays, carnival games and rides will also be there. In additional to chicken there will be your favorite festival foods and the Versailles Band Boosters will be operating their food tent. Frisbees will also be flying, so be sure to catch a game as the Ultimate Frisbee tournament, the 3rd largest in the U.S., returns to Versailles once again. Not to be forgotten, Rage and Rocko the Fire Prevention Dogs will also be making appearances! Jason Emmons of Bear Hollow Wood Carvers will be demonstrating his talent with carvings to be donated to area groups.

The Social Tent will host 11 musical groups with live entertainment starting early each day! Some old favorites and new talent will light up the stage with excitement. Festival headliners include Renegade, Higgins Madewell, Mark Cantwil, 8 Ball, Saw Creek, The MicStand Band, Frohna and Warner and Empty Tank. The adult beverage selection will include Bud Light and Bud Select 55, a selection of craft beer and fine wines from The Winery at Versailles.

Poultry Days is a volunteer based, non-profit organization in Versailles, Ohio which has conducted an annual festival celebrating the area’s history in the Poultry industry since 1952. The festival is held at 459 S. Center St., Versailles, Ohio the second full weekend in June. For the festival schedule and event registration go to www.versaillespoultrydays.com.

2014 VERSAILLES POULTRY DAYS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Wednesday, June 11

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm     Art & Photography Show Registration - Multi-Purpose Building

Thursday, June 12

10:00 am - 1:00 pm    Art & Photography Show Registration – Multi-Purpose Building

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm      Commercial and Craft Tent Set-Up

Friday, June 13

10:00 am - 12:00 pm  Flower Show Registration

12:00 pm                 Miss Chick Contest (Personal Interviews)

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm   Commercial and Craft Tent Set-Up (Only if Necessary)

12:00 pm - 8:00 pm   Friends of the Library Book Sale – Worch Memorial Library

1:00 pm                            Flower Show Judging (Open Class) - Bus Driver Meeting Room

3:00 pm - 8:00 pm      Art & Photography Show - Multi-Purpose Building

3:00 pm - 8:00 pm     Flower Show - Bus Driver Meeting Room

3:00 pm - 11:00 pm   Food, Concessions, Rides and Carnival Booths in Operation

3:00 pm - 11:30 pm    Social Tent in Operation

3:30 pm – 8:00 pm    Drive & Walk-Thru Barbecue Chicken (or sell out)

3:30 pm - 4:30 pm      On the Radar – Social Tent

4:00 pm - 9:00 pm      Craft and Commercial Exhibit Tents – North Parking Lot

4:30 pm - 7:30 pm      MicStand Band – Social Tent

5:30 pm                       Mister & Miss SuperFit Challenge – Instructions – High School Track

6:00 pm                       Mister & Miss SuperFit Challenge - Event Begins – High School Track

6:30 pm                            Little Miss Poultry Days Contest - Old HS Gym

7:00 pm - 11:00 pm   K of C Bingo - Back of Building

8:00 pm - 11:30 pm    Taylor Huffman and Bryant Ahrens - Special Guests
8:00 pm - 11:30 pm    Renegade – Social Tent

Saturday, June 14

6:30 am - 7:30 am      5K Run/Walk & 1-Mile Fun Run Packet pickup & Registration –

New High School

7:30 am                  1-Mile Fun Run - New High School

8:00 am                            5K Run/Walk Race (Awards at 9:15 am) - New High School

8:30 am - 9:30 am      Egg & Cake Registration – Multi-Purpose Building

9:00 am - 8:00 pm     Ultimate Frisbee Tournament – Heritage Park
9:45 am                       Egg & Cake Judging – Multi-Purpose Building

11:00 am                          Grand Parade

11:30 am - 7:30 pm   Drive & Walk-Thru Barbecue Chicken (or sell out)

12:00 pm - 8:00 pm    Art, Photo, Cake & Eggs Shows – Multi-Purpose Building 

12:00 pm - 8:00 pm   Friends of the Library Book Sale – Worch Memorial Library

12:00 pm - 8:00 pm   Flower Show – Bus Driver Meeting Room

12:00 pm - 10:00 pm  Craft and Commercial Exhibit Tents – North Parking Lot

12:00 pm - 11:00 pm  Food, Concessions, Rides and Carnival Booths in Operation

12:00 pm - 11:30 pm Social Tent in Operation

12:15 pm - 1:15 pm    TRSS Drum Corp– Social Tent 

1:00 pm - 11:00 pm   K of C Bingo – Back of Building

1:30 pm - 4:00 pm      Higgins Madewell – Social Tent

2:00 pm                       Opening Ceremony and Flag Raising – Front of Board Offices

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm      Miss Chick Contest – Finals & Crowning – Old High School Gym

2:00 pm                       Wood Carving Show (2 pm, 4 pm, 6 pm & 8 pm) 

4:30 pm - 7:00 pm      Mark Cantwil – Social Tent

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm      Veterans Ceremony in old high school gym

6:30 pm - 7:30 pm      Egg & Cake Show - Awards
7:30 pm - 11:30 pm    8 Ball – Social Tent

 
Sunday, June 15

9:00 am                       Annual Poultry Days Golf Scramble –Stillwater Valley Golf Course

9:00 am - 4:00 pm     Ultimate Frisbee Tournament – Heritage Park

9:30 am                            Refreshments for Church in the Park  

10:00 am                 Church in the Park – Tent in Park North of the Pool 

10:00 am - 2:00 pm    Antique Car Parade Registration - Corner of Ward St & S. Center St

11:00 am – 12:30 pm  2 on 2 Basketball Tournament – Registration at the New High School 

11:00 am – 7:00 pm   Drive & Walk-Thru Barbecue Chicken (or sell out)

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm   Corn Hole Tournament –Registration/Sign-In –

Front of School Board Offices.

12:00 pm - 3:00 pm    Art & Photography Show (Pick-Up from 3:00 - 4:00 pm)

12:00 pm - 4:00 pm    Friends of the Library Book Sale – Worch Memorial Library

12:00 pm - 6:00 pm   Flower Show – Bus Driver Meeting Room

12:00 pm - 6:00 pm   Craft and Commercial Exhibit Tents – North Parking Lot

12:00 pm - 10:00 pm  Food, Concessions, Rides and Carnival Booths in Operation

12:00 pm - 10:30 pm  Social Tent in Operation

12:30 pm                          Kiddie Tractor Pull Registration – Driveway to the Vendor Area

12:30 pm - 3:00 pm    Frohna & Warner - Social Tent
1:00 pm - 10:00 pm   K of C Bingo – Back of Building

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm      F.I.R.S.T. Robot Demonstration – Front of the

School Board Offices.

1:00 pm                       2 on 2 Basketball Tournament – New High School

(registration 11:00 am – 12:30pm)

1:00 pm                  Wood Carving Show (1 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm & 7 pm)

1:30 pm                       Corn Hole Tournament – Front Lawn of School Board Offices

1:30 pm                            Kiddie Tractor Pull - Driveway to the Vendor Area

2:30 pm                       Antique Car & Tractor Parade 

3:30 pm - 6:00 pm      Saw Creek – Social Tent

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm     Art & Photography Work Pickup - Multi Purpose Room

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm      Ultimate Frisbee Division Championships & Awards – Heritage Park

6:00 pm                       Flower Show – Entry Pick Up Deadline 

6:30 pm - 10:30 pm    Empty Tank – Social Tent