Donated by Wells Fargo, the oversized plush pony will be auctioned
Shamrock, the 14th edition in the Wells Fargo plush pony family, found a new, temporary home with VFW Post 9599 just in time for St Patrick’s Day. On Friday, post commander Don Ihnken took Shamrock “home,” where he’ll board until an auction sometime in April. After the auction he’ll go to his forever home, and the VFW post will have raised additional money for the rehabilitation of the post’s building at 109 N. Chestnut in Jefferson.
Since 2003, the plush pony program has honored the thousands of horses that worked in the company’s express business or pulled a Wells Fargo stagecoach. As part of the annual promotion, the popular ponies are displayed prominently each holiday season at Wells Fargo stores.
One the promotion is over, one oversized plush pony is donated to a local nonprofit chosen by the local store. The local Wells Fargo team selected the VFW to receive Shamrock.
According to local store manager Omega Sang, the original Shamrock was a prize stallion who pulled a Wells Fargo wagon in 1913. Every morning Shamrock and the other horses waited with their wagons outside Union Depot in St Louis, MO, for express packages arriving by train from all over the country.
Watch for more information about VFW’s upcoming auction, which will include not only Shamrock, but many other items.
