Small Idaho town defends Chicken Dinner Road from PETA

The mayor of a rural town in Idaho responded to a request from PETA to change the name of the local Chicken Dinner Road, saying, “NO WAY, NO CHANCE.”

A July 3 letter to Caldwell Mayor Garret Nancolas written by PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman said in part, “Would you consider changing the name of Chicken Dinner Road to Chicken Road as a kinder alternative? … Just like dogs, cats, and human beings, chickens feel pain and fear and value their own lives. PETA is asking Mayor Nancolas to change this road’s name to one that celebrates chickens as individuals, not as beings to kill, chop up, and label as ‘dinner.'”

Nancolas answered with a snarky Facebook post. “When I realized the letter was for real, it made me extremely irritated that they would waste our time with such a ridiculous request!!…NO WAY, NO CHANCE I would ever consider this truly unbelievable request!!” he said. Nancolas also noted the rural Chicken Dinner Road did not even fall in his town’s jurisdiction and “We have many issues to consider, but this IS NOT one of them!”

Other Idahoans took the opportunity to give Nancolas support in his decision to rebuke PETA. Shea McClellin, a former NFL linebacker and Caldwell native, tweeted that he had been in touch with the mayor’s office saying, “Update on the Chicken Dinner Rd situation. Called the Mayor of Caldwell and spoke to his secretary (at least I think it was) and she said he won’t change the name. I got your back Idaho. Choke on that @peta. ‘I think I’ll take 2 chickens.'”

Though the history behind the name of Chicken Dinner Road is not totally agreed upon by all locals, most are settled on the fact that it can be attributed to a former resident of the rural community, Laura Lamb, who was known for her fried chicken recipe in the 1930s. The road, located within the Snake River wine region, is also home to Huston Vineyards, which has created a line of merchandise in support of Nancolas and the name “Chicken Dinner Road,” including T-shirts, stickers, and caps.

Related Content