“Cows are funny that way.”
Carol Rinehart, Resident of Kiester, Minnesota
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| Photo by Hokkaido-man |
I’m not much of a gambler. Casinos leave me cold. Las Vegas? Not even tempted. But when it comes to small town gambling, I’m hooked. A few months ago, I came across the story of illegal mouse races in Iowa (see Rat Race), and now I see there’s cow chip bingo in Minnesota.
Cow chip bingo is not so much about bingo as it is about cow chips, or cow pies to be more accurate. Squares are painted on a field, a cow is released into the field, and the game is over when the cow goes poo. Ahead of time, tickets to each square are sold, and the person who holds the ticket to the square where the cow goes #2 is the #1 winner.
Cow chip bingo is a popular game at town festivals, and unlike the mouse races in Iowa, it’s an officially recognized form of gambling in Minnesota, rules and all. It’s not a difficult game, though some festival organizers might disagree. Last year the cow in Wells, Minnesota (population 2,343) refused to poo, and after three hours numbers were drawn from a hat to determine a winner. Folks in Kiester, Minnesota (population 501) didn’t have much better luck earlier this summer when their cow bolted over the fence and trotted down the road.
Still, when the cow cooperates, it’s a silly good time. And it’s not a bad money maker for the towns. It’s the biggest fundraiser of the year for Wells and Kiester, each of which raised about $1,000. There are variations of the game across the country: moose poop bingo, turkey poop bingo, and, of course a small town favorite, chicken poop bingo.
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