Thanksgiving holds many traditions, and in Bentonville in the 1950s, it was local business owners racing live turkeys.

On Nov. 22, 1958, almost 2,000 people showed up to watch the 5th annual Turkey Race and Drawing in downtown Bentonville, according to an article written at the time by journalist J. Dickson Black.

Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, 47 business owners each raced a turkey before they were given away in a drawing. Residents were given the chance to register at each of the participating businesses prior to the race for a chance to win one of the birds. 

“This way you could have 47 chances to win, that made it worth the trip to town on Saturday afternoon,” Black wrote.

The rules for the turkey race declared that “each merchant must race his turkey himself. He must have a rope around the turkey’s neck that will confine but not choke the bird. Contestants will not be allowed to push or pull his turkey or touch him in any way to make him run.”

Race tracks were one block long, with turkeys lining up in four groups on the streets leading to the square. City Marshal Tater Black started the race with a shot. “Then the fun started,” Black wrote. Some turkeys ran for the finish line “as if they wanted to get it over with.” 

“Then there were those that went the wrong way, others got off to a good start and then just stopped. No amount of jumping up and down and yelling could get them to go at all,” Black wrote.

One turkey ran under a car and would not come out. Although some had to be carried, they all made it to the finish line.

Otis Corley, manager of the Arkansas Western Gas Co. won first place. Instead of receiving a pardon, the winning turkey was given to Corley to determine its fate.

A drawing for the other turkeys took place and the winners went home with their Thanksgiving dinner centerpieces.