Thunderstorm mars Chickenfest 2024
Over 45,000 served in 60 years of chicken barbecue
By News Channel NebraskaJOHNSON - The 60th annual Johnson Chickenfest was big hit with car shows, barbecue pit and chicken dinner, but the Johnson Chamber of Commerce posted with extreme disappointment that the Casey Donahew concert had to be canceled because of lightning in the area.
Casey Donahew, a Billboard US Country top 10 singer, had been scheduled in the style of the event’s early street dances.
The concert was first delayed when a thunderstorm moved through and was ultimately canceled due to lingering lightning.
Prior to the storm, Terry Wagner of the Johnson Chamber of Commerce marked the 60th anniversary with a photograph of his dad, Junior Wagner. Junior was pictured at the first chicken barbecue in 1966, where 450 chicken halves were served.
Wagner said they only had $4.50 in the treasury at that time so Wayne Stukenholtz suggested having a barbecue to raise money. They went door-to-door to business people in Johnson and come up with enough money to buy some chickens for the barbecue.
The style of the pit and the chicken racks are the same, as is the guarded barbecue sauce secret.
Wagner said the chicken dinner has grown from 300 to 400 served in the early years to a peak of 1,200 served after it was moved to Father’s Day.
Kent and Nancy Wilson of Beatrice showed a 1940 Ford couple deluxe.