Second Annual Chester Chicken Chuck brings feathered fun to downtown Spencer

Laughter filled the Owen County Courthouse Square on Saturday, June 13, as residents and visitors gathered for the Owen County Chamber of Commerce's Second Annual Chester Chicken Chuck.

Beginning at 10 a.m., the unique event combined hometown fun with a beloved piece of Owen County history, drawing participants of all ages to downtown Spencer.

The festivities kicked off with a special appearance by Owen County's own Medal of Honor recipient, Sammy Lee Davis, who served as the honorary Master of Ceremonies and had the honor of tossing the very first chicken to officially begin the competition.

The main event, the Chester Chicken Chuck, featured seven teams competing to catch as many rubber chickens as possible as they were launched from the rooftop of the Owen County Courthouse by members of the Owen Valley Fire Territory. This year's competition included a new twist—a special Santa Claus Chicken, worth two points, adding even more excitement to the fast-paced contest.

When all the chickens had flown, The Mighty Clucks, consisting of Liam Ruple and Andrew Moore, emerged as this year's champions, earning bragging rights and the grand prize of Babbs Fried Chicken for a Year.

Following the championship competition, attention turned to the Charity Chicken Chuck, where six teams competed to catch just one chicken. Thanks to the generosity of the Owen County Community Foundation, each participating team received a $50 donation for the charity of its choice, making the event not only entertaining but impactful for local nonprofit organizations.

This year's celebration also expanded with several new activities that brought even more community involvement.

A Chicken Window Decorating Contest invited local businesses to showcase their creativity with custom chicken designs painted by local artist Steve Adams. The winning business, Spencer Pride, took home a traveling trophy topped with a chicken, earning a full year of "clucking rights."

Participants also had the opportunity to show off their creativity during the Chicken Costume Contest, where Jenny Osbourne and Chris Summit captured first place and the $50 grand prize with their crowd-pleasing costumes.

The fun continued with the ever-popular Open Flys, giving everyone a chance to join in the excitement. The festivities began with the Little Chick Fly for children ages 12 and under. Foam chickens, each carrying a prize sticker, were dropped from the courthouse roof, and young participants redeemed their catches at the Babbs tent for prizes.

Next came the Teen Scramble for ages 13 to 17, followed by the Babbs Open Fly for adults ages 18 and older. Every chicken was a winner, but one lucky participant, Robin Reynolds, caught the special prize chicken and walked away with the grand prize—a 98-second shopping spree at Babbs SuperValu.

The Chester Chicken Chuck is more than just a fun-filled competition. It is a modern recreation of a cherished Owen County tradition dating back to the 1930s. Shortly before Christmas, residents gathered downtown to catch live chickens, ducks, and turkeys, which they would then prepare for their family's holiday meal. The event was originally created by Dwight Johnson, Fred White and Chester Babbs as a way to encourage residents to shop locally during the holiday season. Today, the Chamber continues that tradition of supporting local businesses while celebrating the community's rich history. Chester Chicken himself proudly carries the name of one of the event's original founders, Chester Babbs.

The Owen County Chamber of Commerce extends its sincere appreciation to the Owen Valley Fire Territory, volunteers, participants, and the many sponsors whose generosity made this year's event possible.

Whole Bird Sponsors

• Babbs SuperValu
• Smithville
• Spencer Main Street
• Cook Medical
• Owen County Community Foundation

Half Bird Sponsors

• Insurance Services
• Indiana Uplands Realtor
• Technology Services
• World Arts
• Compass Rose

Nugget Sponsors

• Tote-Ally Fresh
• Bates Mechanical
• Andy and Beth Cline

Popcorn Sponsors

• Byers Home Furnishings
• Boys & Girls Club
• Patriot Manufacturing
• Busy Bee Café
• Owen Valley FFA

With another successful year in the books, the Second Annual Chester Chicken Chuck once again proved that few communities can combine history, hometown pride and feather-filled fun quite like Owen County. The Chamber is already looking forward to welcoming everyone back next year for another chance to catch a chicken, win big and celebrate one of the county's most unique traditions.