We’ll be introducing you to Jefferson’s sister act, the hilarious “Coonettes” from Squirrel Hollow, and you can catch a preview of their act right here

There will be a special, brief presentation of local talent on the main stage the evening of July 21 when RAGBRAI is in Jefferson. Just after the cyclists honor the legendary Mr. Pork Chop, for his 25 years of service grilling and selling luscious Iowa Chops along the RAGBRAI routes, then out on the stage will come the “Coonettes,” a comedy song and dance troupe of three sisters from Jefferson.

Gina Harrington, Marianne Carlson and Teresa Shahan – all in their 50s and all successful in their careers – take their stage name from the fact that they are the daughters of farmers Don and Mary Coon, who raised them in the Squirrel Hollow neighborhood southeast of Jefferson. The trio has been keeping local audiences in stitches for years with their comic numbers.

Following the Mr. Pork Chop ceremony, the Coonettes will express their solidarity with the wives of hog farmers with their performance of “Farmer's Wife Blues.” You can watch and listen to them doing a recent back-yard version of that number in the accompanying video. And be forewarned, they plan to demonstrate more of their back-country culture that night in a special song they are working up about RAGBRAI.