It's hard to believe there was actually Easter without those yellow marshmellow chicks. But that's how it was until 1953.

It was in that year when a Russian immigrant named Sam Born bought the Rodda Candy Company of Lancaster, PA. The jelly bean company also made some marshmellow chicks and bunnies by hand, and sold them in the local area. But Sam Born's son built a machine that would automate the process of using sugar, corn syrup and gelatin, and allowing the company to make millions of peeps each year.

As soon as the peeps became available nationally, the struggling candy company's business took off. Now the company is called Just Born Inc, and hatches 5 million peeps a day from it's plant near Philadelphia. All for us to eat, smash, microwave, deep fry or roast on a stick.

More From WFHN-FM/FUN 107