History
At the New York State Fair
Eggbert was created by Cornell University Professor Robert C. Baker, who also created the chicken nugget, to promote the poultry and egg industry in New York. [4] [5] Eggbert has appeared since 1953 at the New York State Fair, where he was first given his crown by Governor Thomas Dewey. [4] [2] [6] At the fair, he answers questions about egg production. [5]
At Devitt's Nursey in New Windsor
Devitt's Nursey was founded by Clem Devitt in 1951. [7] Their annual Christmas displays began "because they had a greenhouse they couldn't afford to heat, so they borrowed some animals from some farmer customers to provide heat." [7] The also added some Christmas items including Santa and his elves and a Nativity scene.
In 1971, Eggbert was purchased by Jack Devitt (1943–2010), [7] owner of Devitt's Nursery in New Windsor, New York. By the early 1970s, somewhere between 75,000 and 80,000 people visited the farm each year. [7] During this period, "for decades, many children in this part of the Hudson Valley bypassed Santa's lap, favoring the comapny of Eggbert the talking egg." [1]
Devitt sold his nursery to Agway in 1996 and the location closed in 2000. [7] Eggbert last appeared for Christmas 1999 and then put in storage and did not return until 2011, when new owners purchased the nursery. [8] [1] Eggbert was refurbished in 2012. [9]
In 2015, approximately 10,000 visitors came to see Eggbert each year. [8]
Eggbert did not appear at the nursery in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [10] [11]
In 2017, Newburgh Brewing Company created "Angry Eggbert IPA." [12] In 2019 and 2022, Eggbert made appearances at Newburgh Brewing Company. [13]