June 5, 2007

The Marion County Courthouse, located in Yellville, has been the site of one of the most controversial activities to occur during the Turkey Trot Festival, one of many festivals throughout the state. The festival, which started in the 1940s, gained national attention with an activity called the Turkey Drop, in which a live turkey was tossed from the courthouse roof. Over the years, the drop evolved into dropping the fowl from a low-flying plane. Negative publicity eventually put an end to the “official” drop, though some still carry out the drops unofficially.