There are no vile or poisonous creatures and injury causing insect life is kept to a minimum by our year round invasive spraying program. Rainfall occurs mostly on Thursdays and Fridays insuring excellent yields of potatoes, onions, tomatoes, bananas, pineapples, corn, wheat, rice, and Brazil nuts. Recent advances in crop supplementation have added to the list, coffee and tea plants, and chocolate bushes which are reported to be doing quite well and thriving. Further, a little known quick growth vine crop, known as the Tussle Vine (Trippus canktorus) has been grown in the area for years. It produces a delicious peach like fruit, and exhibits the odd characteristic whereby heavy metals, principally gold and platinum are concentrated in the leaves. At the end of the growing season, the first two weeks of February, the leaves are raked and the metals reclaimed. Nearly everyone grows two or three in their back yards, as the pleasantly scented flowers lend beauty and elegance to any domicile. Those few plants usually produce enough capital at the end of the growing season to pay the yearly mortgage or finance a restful overseas vacation.

The name Cowchip is a bit unusual. The common or vulgar meaning can best be summed up as cattle crap, or fecal matter emanating from cattle rectums, ie. Cow poop, doo doo, the end product of a heavy feeding day in the cattle feed lot, the blackened, slightly rounded lumps of smelly stuff found lying about in cow pastures and pens. In the case of Cowchip/AL, nothing could possibly be further from the truth...if you believe the traditional version of how the town got its name that is. It is actually a fine, old and proud name, cherished by its residents.

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Cowchip/AL was established in 1837 just shortly after the original inhabitants, the Catchymedoggie Indians were sent packing. Some Indians stayed however.

There are two versions of how our delightful and pleasant community got its name. One version has it that it was named after the son of a famous local Indian called Old Chief Watpokie.

As the story goes, one day, Old Chief Watpokie's son went inside his father's teepee and asked, "Father, great chief Watpokie, please tell me how you decide what call your Indian brave when they are born?"

Old chief Watpokie is said to have stated, "My wonderful boy! I will tell you. When my little Indian brave is first born I step outside the teepee and look around. I call my new little brave the first thing I see. For example, if I see the sun rising, I call my little brave Rising Sun. If I see a bear scratching on an oak tree, I call him Scratchy Bear Oak Tree. Why do you ask, Cowchip?"

The other version, and that sworn and attested to by our premier historical group here in town, The Cowchip/AL Ladies Social and Savings Club is than an old settler was once heard to say, "I'm so damned hungry I could eat a cow chip." You decide which version you wish to accept.

This stylized oil mural of the famous RYO Corporation's ***Norm's Three Virgin's Scuppernong Wine*** can be seen on display in the Cowchip/AL Memorial Library from 9-5 on weekdays. It is part of the Mutt Matthews Collection which was bequeathed by his widow. Mrs. Matthews was tried and convicted of hanging her husband in the Unisex bathroom of the old RYO Lodge several years ago, and upon her death in the Alabama electric chair, Yellow Mama, made as her last request that we keep and display his fine works. Matthews was a one legged fiddle player of some great local renown.

• Business and Community Arts

Cowchip/AL was always a commercial success with our slag mines and oil wells, but since the RYO Corporation moved in during the middle 80's business has boomed again and again.

Today, Cowchip/AL is primarily a service, manufacturing, technological, and arts based community. Besides the RYO Corporation, we boast 14 auto dealerships, 55 restaurants, (Fast food-Four****) three radio stations an one television station, top rated schools, hundreds of manufacturers outlet stores, a movie studio, several research facilities covering everything from nuclear radiation research to life saving techniques performed daily at the Cowchip/AL Regional Medical Center. We are also the summer home for the Alabama Symphonic Orchestra, and the Southeastern United States Ballet School.

There are no gaming rooms or brothels on the main floor of any building in our fine town! With an eye on the future we maintain our links to the past here in Cowchip/AL. Finally, there are no local taxes levied on any privately held or corporately controlled business within our city limits.

The Cowchip/AL town council, under the able and inspired leadership of Mayor Tom Bowerman, our award winning Mayor, our wonderful business leaders, our proud citizens invite YOU to make Cowchip/AL your home. For more information on moving your industry to Cowchip/AL, contact the Cowchip/AL Chamber Of Commerce today. Cowchip/AL wants you!

This page sponsored in part by:

And also sponsored by: ( A possible future client of the RYO Corporation)

The RYO Corporation, RYO Productions, and Cowchip/AL are copyrighted.

Please visit the other two pages of this excellent collector's set!

DO THE WINE PAGE

DO THE RYO CORPORATE PAGE

DO THE SECRET RYO TRAVELS PAGE

DO THE COWCHIP GAZETTE PAGE