Retired North Iowa Farmer Wins $78K Lottery Prize

A retired North Iowa farmer says he thought someone was joking when he learned he had won a lottery prize of more than $78,000.

Donny Francis of Mitchell won big playing the “Hot Ticket Progressive” InstaPlay ticket he bought at Rusty’s Last Call in Osage. He learned he was a big winner after the bar owner checked the ticket for him at the lottery terminal.

When Francis claimed his prize at the Iowa Lottery’s Mason City regional office, he described his reaction: “I said, ‘You’re joking! Someone’s pulling a joke on me. I still didn’t believe it until I got over here this morning.”

Once he realized the prize was real, Francis bought the next round for everyone at the bar. Francis also shared the news with family and friends, including members of a group chat called The Misfits.

The 83-year-old Francis has farmed all his life and still helps his son, who now runs the family farming operation. As for his winnings, Francis said he’ll start by putting the money in the bank, but he also has his eye on a new side-by-side vehicle.

Hot Ticket Progressive is a $10 game that features a jackpot that starts at $10,000 and increases with every ticket sold statewide until it’s won.

Other recent winners include Doug Henning of Fertile, who scored over $11,000 on Fat Wallet Progressive ticket purchased from Hy-Vee in Forest City; and Rodney Schabacker of Winthrop, who won over $53,000 with a Jurassic Park Progressive ticket he bought at Hy-Vee Dollar Fresh in Independence.