Vintage 1950s DeKalb Corn Growing Champion Wooden Advertising Ashtray Base

What is this product used for?

Back in the mid-20th century, this piece originally served as the wooden base for a promotional glass insert ashtray.

The DeKalb Agricultural Association (famous for its "winged ear of corn" logo) handed these out as a trophy and marketing piece to local farmers who dominated the county corn yield contests. Today, since the glass insert has long flown the coop, it functions perfectly as a rustic valet tray or catch-all bowl for keys, loose change, or pocket knives.