Original eat more chikin billboard

Inside Chick-fil-A

It was 1995 when the words “Eat Mor Chikin” first appeared on an Atlanta, Ga billboard. Painted by a pair of rebel cows, it was the beginning of a movement that’s become an iconic advertising campaign.

Fast forward 20 years and today the boisterous bovines are still at it—finding creative ways to encourage humans to eat chicken not beef.

“From billboards to water towers, TV to radio, there’s no place that’s off limits for the renegade cows’ self-preservation message.”

From billboards to water towers, TV to radio, there’s no place that’s off limits for the renegade cows’ self-preservation message. They’ve been spotted hanging from the sides of buildings, made appearances at professional sporting games, and starred in annual calendars.

Taking it a step further, they’ve inspired thousands of Americans to head to their local Chick-fil-A restaurants every July, clad as the famous cows to celebrate what is now Cow Appreciation Day. As part of the July 14th celebration, we release the best of the cows. Courtesy of the The Richards Group, responsible for conceptualizing the heroic Holsteins, we take a look back at the last 20 years…

1995 – The cows commandeer their first billboard

1995 -- The Cows commandeer their first billboard 

1996 – The Cows air their first radio commercial

1997 – The Cows first appear on TV

1997 – The first cow costume debuts
1997 – The first Cow costume debuts
 
1998 – The first cow calendar is created
1998 – The first Cow calendar is created

 

1998 – The first Plush Cow is produced
1998 – The first Plush Cow is produced

 

2001 – The first cow car is introduced
2001 – The first Cow car is introduced

 

2002 – The cows think big and create their first “Giant Wall” ad
2002 – The Cows think big and create their first “Giant Wall” ad

 

2005 – The first Cow Appreciation Day is celebrated
2005 – The first Cow Appreciation Day is celebrated

 

2006 – Chopping Atlanta Braves Cow installed at Turner Field
2006 – Chopping Atlanta Braves Cow installed at Turner Field

 

2007 – Cows Inducted into Madison Avenue’s Advertising Walk of Fame
2007 – Cows Inducted into Madison Avenue’s Advertising Walk of Fame

 

2008 – Climbing to new heights, the cows paint their first water tower
2008 – Climbing to new heights, the Cows paint their first water tower

 

2009 – The cows start tweeting
2009 – The Cows start tweeting

 

2010 – The cows sound the alarm for new spicy chicken
2010 – The Cows sound the alarm for new spicy chicken

 

2011 – The Cows herd in Capitol Hill for Cow Appreciation Day
2011 – The Cows herd in Capitol Hill for Cow Appreciation Day (Photo credit: Stanley Leary)

 

2011 – The Cows herd in Texas for Cow Appreciation Day (Photo credit: Stanley Leary)
2011 – The Cows herd in Texas for Cow Appreciation Day (Photo credit: Stanley Leary)

 

2011 – The cows prove to be social creatures, accruing over 500,000 Facebook fans
2011 – The Cows prove to be social creatures, accruing over 500,000 Facebook fans

 

2013 – Cows join Instagram
2013 – Cows join Instagram

 

2014 – The Cows get even more inventive on digital

 

2014 – Cows introduce new grilled chicken
2014 – The Cows introduce new grilled chicken

 

2015 – 20th Anniversary of Cow Campaign
2015 -- New design for Plush Cow introduced

 

#20YearsOfCows
#20YearsOfCows

 

Tagged In: 20Th Anniversary Cow Appreciation Day Cows Eat Mor Chikin