Ma and Pa Kettle

Birdie Hicks engineers a town council meeting to condemn Ma and Pa Kettle's rundown farm as a 'garbage dump.' The Kettles brace for eviction as neighbors gossip and the council debates the property's fate.

Alvin the town mailman delivers a telegram declaring Pa Kettle the winner of the grand prize—the house-of-the-future. The news promises a dramatic turn in the Kettles' fortunes and fuels the growing controversy.

Mayor Dwiggins, delighted by Pa's windfall, cancels the condemnation meeting to deliver the telegram personally. The crowd gathers at Ma and Pa's farmhouse, hoping Pa's prize will curb the threats against their home.

The 14 youngest Kettle children greet the arriving council with slingshots and toy guns, defending their home with unexpected tenacity. The chaotic defense disrupts the visit and underscores the family's stubborn attachment to their land.

Tom, returning from college, meets Kim Parker on a train and shares his plans to improve a chicken incubator for farmers. Kim is a young writer with theories about modern living, sparking curiosity and a hint of tension about Tom's family story.

Tom learns of the windfall and objects to being characterized as living in abject poverty. He pushes back against the simplification of his upbringing, foreshadowing conflicts between modern aspirations and rural roots.

The Kettles relocate to the large House of the Future, a gleaming symbol of their sudden fortune. The gadgets and space promise convenience, but Pa remains wary of the rapid technological changes.

Pa suffers a sunburned face from a heat lamp while shaving, a comic reminder of the gadgets' risks. He decides to move back to the old farmhouse to avoid troublesome technology and regain his stubborn independence.

Birdie Hicks accuses Pa of plagiarizing his slogan from traveling salesman Billy Reed, threatening Pa's prize and public image. The controversy also casts a shadow over Tom's chances to secure financing for his incubator.

Billy Reed explains that the slogan came from Pa, not the other way around. With the truth exposed, the Kettles manage to salvage their reputation and keep the house.

Tom secures financing to manufacture his improved chicken incubator, giving his project real traction. He also marries Kim Parker, linking their personal lives to their shared ambitions for modern farming.

At the wedding ceremony, Pa receives a telegram announcing another slogans contest win, this time a free trip to New York. The unexpected good news adds a final twist of luck to the Kettles' already eventful day.