Talking Turkey

This is our third year for making a Thanksgiving wall. The first year we did a tree with handprint leaves, last year we did a colorful turkey, and this year we did a white domestic turkey. Throughout November we add handprints and write things we are thankful for. It’s a great way to direct our conversation at supper on all the blessings from God.

Here are their Highnesses with our Thanksgiving Turkey!

We made a white turkey this year since that’s what we will eat at Thanksgiving, plus there are over 15,000 of them on the farm! Did you ever think much about farmers who raise turkeys? It’s a stinky job, literally. When they are pults (that means baby turkey) they are so cute. All kids love to play in the baby turkeys. The building is always warm, and water and feed are automatic. Then, they grow – fast.

Here is Sam with the new baby turkeys last week. In 18 weeks these will be lunch meat!

Big turkeys are ugly, stinky, and mean. Turkey manure reeks of ammonia and many farmers were masks just to breathe in the building and particularly when stirring up the manure. Also, big turkeys get mean. My farmer brother has waders that he wears in the big turkeys to protect his legs from pecking (he finally got these after too many cuts and bruises).

In spite of this, turkey farmers work hard to insure their birds are healthy and comfortable. A lot of time and expensive equipment are required. The meat produced by American turkey farmers is low fat and high protein. This Thanksgiving about 45 million turkeys will be eaten. However, over ½ of the turkey meat consumed is on a sandwich.

Did you know that wild turkeys were first suggested as the national bird? I think the switch to Eagle was wise, though wild turkeys are beautiful. Our family first started raising turkeys in 1956 (I wasn’t much help:). At that time, it was bronze turkeys raised out on the range. Over the years the switch to automated buildings has greatly increased efficiency. Also, the switch to white domestic turkeys came about because colored feathers leak onto the skin and consumers prefer the cleaner looking meat.

Now, as you enjoy your turkey next week you can tell your family a bit of turkey trivia and thank God for farmers!