Some folks say
that Mommy Rabbit told them that in the last few
weeks before the birth of her new baby bunny, she
would feel a soft thump, thump, thump in her tummy
when she listened to country music on the
phonograph. It was as if a tiny little paw was
keeping time to the tune. And, Mommy Rabbit said
nothing would calm Baby Bunny’s whimpering quicker
than a transistor radio tuned to WQBE sitting beside
the little bunny bassinet. When Baby Bunny would cry
Mommy Rabbit would tune the transistor to a great
country song. Before long a little paw would be
tapping against the side of the crib...keeping time
to the tune as Baby Bunny peacefully slumbered.
Like all little bunnies do, Baby Bunny grew and
grew and soon Baby Bunny was a lanky young Rabbit.
While his adolescent years were mostly unremarkable,
it was widely rumored that he could hop a little
faster and jump a little
higher
than most of the other rabbits in the woods. It was
also known that he loved to slip away, down to the
edge of the briar patch where old man Jones had a
general store.
Maybe it was the carrots that old man Jones
always kept, fresh and ready, in the produce baskets
by the window. Or, maybe it was the music that the
mountain boys made on their acoustic instruments on
the porch of the store after the plowing was done.
Whatever the reason, our young Rabbit could often be
found sitting cross-legged on the steps of the
store, nibbling on a carrot, with one foot tapping
to the tunes the boys were playing.
The scene was such one summer afternoon when Al
Woody stopped by the store for a soda. Al, stepped
out of his truck and soon was sitting on the steps
beside the young Rabbit enjoying the music while he
sipped his soda. Shortly he too was tapping his foot
because the music was really good and it is
hard to refrain from a little toe tapping when good
music is playing. In a short time a conversation
commenced because both young Rabbit and Al Woody are
the friendly sort.
Well, the music kept playing, and the toes kept
tapping, and Al and young Rabbit kept talking until
the sun was sinking low in the westward sky. No one
knows exactly what the two of them talked about that
day, but toward sundown they were seen shaking on a
deal that had been struck. Al Woody’s honest hand
and young Rabbit’s sinewy paw clasp in agreement
that the young Rabbit would come to work for WQBE as
official Station Mascot and Goodwill
Ambassador. It is believed that it was then and
there that the Rabbit suggested the slogan
"Twenty-Four Carrot Country" to describe both
the music he loves and the carrots he craves.
And, so it came to be. The Rabbit packed his
bags, kissed Mommy Rabbit on the cheek, and left the
briar patch. After making a quick stop at old man
Jones’ store for a fresh supply of carrots, the
Rabbit waved to the mountain boys playing tunes out
front and
came to live in the big city. It should be noted
that the Rabbit did linger just a short time to
listen to the mountain boys’ music while he munched
on a carrot before he hopped on down the path to
Charleston.
Now, the Rabbit is seen everywhere with the WQBE
gang. At live broadcasts he hands out prizes and
poses for pictures with the kids…and with some
grownups, too. In parades he waves and tosses out
candy. At concerts he is the center of attention
until the big-name country stars take the
stage. Then he can often be seen sitting in the
audience with that lucky Rabbit’s foot patting on
the floor in time with the music. The Rabbit has
been seen at fairs and festivals, parties and
picnics, school events and community occurrences. As
the station’s mascot the Rabbit has enjoyed meeting
thousands of WQBE listeners and hundreds of the
biggest stars of country music. Wherever there is
fun and country music, the Rabbit is likely to be
nearby.
Still to this day the Rabbit absolutely
loves his job; that’s easy for anyone to see. And,
to this day the friendship between Al Woody and the
Rabbit still continues. Both still enjoy good
country music and both still enjoy slipping away to
old man Jones’ store once in a while to sit and talk
and "toe-tap" for a spell.