Only a few days remain until the deadline for The Producer’s annual contest giveaway.

The winner of this year’s contest could get an unfinished pine box, “Amazing Grace” hummed by a backhoe operator and eternity in an unmarked grave.

It’s the 34 ^th anniversary of The Producer’s free funeral observance, a contest no one ever wants to win and a few sign up for.

The premise is that anyone who plans to drink and drive on New Year’s Eve can fill out the contest form.

If they die in a drunk accident, they get a free no-frills funeral.

The funeral giveaway was started in 1986 by former Publisher Ted Phillips to remind readers that drinking and driving is dangerous and foolish, with the hopes that anyone who realizes it, might not do it.

The darkly humorous campaign has produced international attention.

Stories on the campaign have been published in newspapers from Florida to Sweden and both former publishers Ted and Stu Phillips have been interviewed on television and radio nationwide.

“They’ll get the cheapest funeral we can buy, a pine box and a shallow hole,” Phillips said in 1986.

The deadline to apply for the funeral is 12 Noon December 31 st .

The Producer has never had to pay for a funeral and only a few application forms have ever been received.

One year where someone filled out the form in the name of the police chief.

“Only one application over the years was form someone who actually going to drink and drive.”

“Most are pranks filled out by friends of sober people.”

Publisher Mike Gifford said the free funeral gimmick continues to be timely.

“There may be kids drinking and driving today that weren’t even born when this started 34 years ago,” he said.

“Perhaps they- and others who drink and drive- will see this as a wake-up call.”

The campaign has been copied over the years but Gifford believes The Producer’s contest is the original free funeral offer.