Enjoying that famous chicken dinner at an early Chicken Fry

Mount Nebo Chicken Fry

This event, held at Mt. Nebo State Park near Dardanelle, Arkansas, since 1948, features "chicken, pickin', and politickin'." Dardanelle, "the city above the clouds," provides a cool, leafy site for the event. The Chicken Fry prides itself on being unmatched in the draw of political candidates from the local to the state level, an arena for politicians to state their views and seek votes. In 1974, William Jefferson Clinton first attended the Chicken Fry, as a candidate for the Third Congressional District of Arkansas. In June, 1985, the event set an all-time record for attendance, when over 10,000 made the trek up the mountain; Governor Bill Clinton also attended that year. September 2000 will mark the 52nd Annual Mount Nebo Chicken Fry, which has been sponsored by the Dardanelle Chamber of Commerce since its inception. Since 2000 is an election year, politicians are expected to be in abundance. Along with the famous chicken dinner, the 52nd Mount Nebo Chicken Fry will provide a 10K run, log-sawing contest, horseshoe tournament, live local band, the crowning of Miss Mt. Nebo," "Little Miss Pullet" and "Little Mister Rooster," arts and craft vendors, and, in what has become a Mt. Nebo tradition, the men's "Lovely Legs Contest."

Project is documented by a ten-page written report; eight 8 x 10 black-and-white and two 8 x 10 color photographs; programs from various years; flyers; newspaper coverage; a tee-shirt, fan, string tie, buttons, and a video: "Scenes from the 1990, 1994, and 1999 Events."

Originally submitted by: Vic Snyder, Representative (2nd District).

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