North vs South in Farmer, Ohio, 1914! Catch Those Varmits!

Farmer's citizens gathered in front of the grange hall where the feast was served.  On the right was the Post Office.

This article was written by Madge Cunningham and submitted to one of the local papers:

"A BIG NEW YEARS BANQUET

Losers in Unique Contest in Farmer Township Set 'Em Up to the Winners

If ever an affair of this sort deserved capital letters, this is it!  Therefore, I do not hesitate to name it an Unqualified Success.

I refer to the Banquet given on New Year's day by the Honorable Losers of the South Side to the Honored Winners of the North Side in the Farmer twp. Rat Killing Contest, which ended December 24, after about 5 weeks pretty continuous hunting.

Following are figures for both sides:

North Side                    South Side

2,696            rats           2,741

4,636            mice          3,387

2,913           sparrows   2,705

9                   hawks             3

-                   crows               2

25,890        points         23,279

Although, there were killed 5,437 rats, 8023 mice, 5,618 sparrows, 12 hawks, and 2 crows, which ought to count a good many points for the farmers and others who benefited.

About 10:30 the crowd began to collect from all directions but long before this, the fires had been started and water carried so that all might be in readiness for cooks and baskets.  And when they came!  Words are weak things to use in describing such an outlay of edibles.  Nothing like it had ever been seen or even imagined by most of us.  Besides everything of the best in a super abundance from out of the farms, there was served by agile, white aproned men and boys, 15 gallons of oysters, 1000 buns and 5 lbs. of most excellent coffees.

A humorous photo set up with a large knife and fork and a huge platter for a plate, filled with food and a jumbo coffee cup.  This winner planned to eat well!

 A register was made of all who sat down at the loaded tables and there were found upon actual count to have been a total of 530 fed upon this occasion between the hours of 12 and 3 p.m.  One continuous performance and a lot of fun mixed in for seasoning.

We of the South Side wish especially to thank our friends on the North Side for the well filled baskets brought by most of them, also Messrs. W. S. Tomlinson, P. W. Burns, R. E. Foote, G. W. Richardson, C. J. Kittredge, O. A. Rice and six other gentlemen, names unknown, for their liberal cash donations, totaling $13.60...

Indeed we can only end as we begun by saying we had a Big Day in Farmer!

M.B. C."

Farmer citizens enjoying their feast in the top room of the Grange.