Hey y’all,
Be prepared to have your heart warmed as I tell this story about Ms. Happy Wyatt, who was on a recent episode of Monroe Today. One thing’s for sure about Ms. Happy – she’s a force of nature! A truly homegrown Southerner with a big heart. Ms. Happy works as the marketing coordinator for Georgia Grown down at the Department of Agriculture. For 19 years, she’s been speakin’ the good word about agriculture, and let me tell y’all, she’s got a strong passion for teaching youngsters about the wonders of farming.
A Rooster Named Elvis
Ms. Happy could often be found at local schools hosting storytime for the young ones. As she made her rounds visiting the libraries, she found that many of the agricultural books she was readin’ focused on chickens and how they produce eggs, giving us all a yummy and nutritious breakfast in the mornings. She loves to teach kids and adults alike about where their food comes from so they can understand why farming is crucial. Now, you should know that Ms. Happy raised many chickens herself and adores the critters. One fine day, she decided to spice up her school story times. Instead of just readin’ about chickens, she thought, why not bring one along? She got up early, packed her books and supplies, and brought a little extra somethin’ with her – one of her beloved chickens named Elvis. Elvis sat on her lap and listened as she read her stories. The students went wild for this rooster! They were entertained and enthusiastic about learnin’ where their food comes from.
Bless his little heart, Elvis was not too keen about being in the spotlight. He was just a bit too shy around all those curious little kids, but he sure did make an impression. So, Ms. Happy set out to continue her reading tour but decided that she should try it with another one of her feathered friends to give poor Elivs a break. She went home and thought long and hard about which of Elvis’ pen mates could be the perfect fit. The proper chicken needed an outgoing personality that would enjoy the life of a feathered celebrity. She knew just the one! His name was originally Confetti due to the mix of colors throughout his frizzled coat. If y’all aren’t chicken lovers, frizzled feathers is a fancy way to say curly.
Elvis the Impersonator
So, the night before the next readin’ day, she gave Confetti a warm bath in the sink, complete with a mani-pedi to make sure he was lookin’ and feelin’ like a million bucks. She packed up a little red wagon with her books and a new coworker the following day. When she brought him out for storytime, she instantly knew that Confetti was the one. He was a natural-born entertainer and loved the attention! He would sit patiently and listen to storytime while adding a few clucks here and there. He was so well-behaved that if he had to use the outhouse, he would go into his cage, do his business, and come right back out to keep the kiddos entertained. From that day on, Ms. Happy changed Confetti’s name to Elvis, and although he wasn’t the original Elvis, he sure was a darn good impersonator. Ms. Happy and Elvis traveled all around Georgia, visiting, inspiring, and entertaining students. Elvis even traveled out of state for a storytime gig in South Carolina!
Elvis loved the spotlight so much that he would often come along on other important jobs with Ms. Happy. For instance, Ms. Happy was invited a few times to the Creek Radio Station in Macon, GA, to discuss her work and the importance of agriculture in the state. She decided to bring Elvis along, and he was a hoot! The radio hosts would ask questions, and Elvis would answer with a cluck. During his time as an entertainer and agricultural educator, Elvis made appearances on four different radio shows.
The Importance of Agriculture
Most people don’t realize that agriculture is the number one industry in Georgia, with only two percent of the population workin’ in agriculture. This is why Ms. Happy loves educating the younger generation on everything that agriculture provides us. Seeing those lightbulb moments in students go off and feeling their joy when they meet Elvis makes it worth it. Whenever possible, Ms. Happy urges everyone to support their local farmers by goin’ to farmers markets and buyin’ local meat. This helps give back to the industry that gives you food, nutrients, and life each day at the dinner table!
Legacy of Elvis: Fabio
Elvis lived to be about 10 years old, which is a long and fruitful life for a chicken. He left an imprint on the agricultural community here in Georgia and the hearts of young students eager to learn. When Ms. Happy learned of Elvis’ passing, she was overcome with emotions, but the first thing she did was quickly grab all the eggs from the pen for incubation, hoping to have another chicken like Elvis. Several of the chicks hatched, but sadly none of them had the same frizzled coat. As they got a bit older, Ms. Happy noticed that one of them had an incredible personality. She decided to name him Fabio since his momma was a silkie, which gave him a big ol’ floof of feathers on his head. Fabio has the same laid-back personality as his daddy, Elvis, and will be making his debut soon, following in Elvis’ footsteps.
‘Til Next Time, Your Storyteller
