On a blustery and cold afternoon Nov. 18 in Naylor, about 40 people stared into a field as they smelled their chance of winning $3,000 grow closer.
Two Angus bulls from Tharp Cattle Company grazed around fenced pins marked with squares while participants waited for each to "drop" a patty in their purchased square.
The inaugural cow patty drop was all part of the Margie Winder Memorial Scholarship to raise funds for scholarships in and around Neelyville.
Margie Winder was a secretary at Neelyville High School for 17 years. She passed away in 2001 from ovarian cancer.
"She loved giving to kids and helping out," Kim Winder, Margie's daughter, said of her mother.
In the past, a golf tournament fundraiser was held, but Winder said the cow patty drop was another opportunity to raise more money and in return more scholarships for Neelyville, Naylor, Corning and surrounding schools.
"We felt like the supporters would be getting something in return from this (cow patty drop)," Winder said.
In year's past, the fundraisers have generated five scholarships for area seniors. After the cow patty drop, Winder said they hope to give away 14 scholarships this year.
The cow patty drop was so successful, two games were sold out, totalling 200 squares and chances to win.
Participants bought squares for $100 each and the first square with a cow patty won $3,000.
After nearly an hour of waiting for nature to call, the first bull dropped a patty on Leigh Ann O'Neal's square and an hour later, Jared Beaird was named the second winner.
Games and a bouncy house were on hand for children at the fundraiser as well as food and entertainment by the Justin Heskett Band.
Winder had the help of her family to organize the fundraiser including her brother and his wife, Jason and Lisa Winder, sister and her husband, Becky and Travis Hale and father, Richard Winder and friend, Susie Tinker.
Winder plans for the cow patty drop to become a yearly fundraising event.
"Thank you to everyone from the bottom of my heart for the support," Winder said.