How Turkeys Are Raised, Turkey Giveaways & Must-Try Recipes
Everywhere you turn this time of year, it is all about turkeys. We are in the post pumpkin pre Christmas tree season. And while turkeys are beginning to fill the bins at the grocery store, I thought I would share little peek into what a turkey farmer and farm is today.
Meet the Olthoff family. They raise 20,000 turkeys. They get all 20,000 male baby turkeys (poults) at 1 day old. The baby turkeys are delivered to a toasty warm barn. The temperature in the barn is controlled by a thermostat, and there are vents that open and close automatically to help adjust it if needed. The turkeys are not in cages – instead they are on sawdust bedding from a local sawmill.
When the turkeys are five weeks old they get moved to new barns where they spend the rest of their lives, about 14 more weeks. While the turkeys they raise are used in lunchmeat, the process for whole turkeys like we eat for Thanksgiving are raised in the same way. Want to know more? Be sure to check out the children’s book they just published. And win it and a turkey!
That’s right, I am giving away a turkey. You can choose the turkey of your choice from Honey Baked Ham. You can choose whole turkeys that are browned and roasted, smoked or cajun. All you have to do is leave a comment letting me know which kind of turkey you would love to have on Thanksgiving!
While we all plan and plot what to make for Turkey day, here are a few tried and trued recommendations from a few of my favorite bloggers.
Turkey:
Side Dishes:
Slow Cooker Cornbread Dressing
His and Her Sweet Potato Casserole
Candied Sweet Potatoes with Pecans
Crock Pot Mushrooms and Onions
Salads:
Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing
Desserts:
Still haven’t seen the recipe you are craving. Well check out the Holiday Pinterest board for Recipes That Crock.
Need help with the leftovers? Check out this turkey rice soup. Or this entire list of leftover Thanksgiving recipes that utilized all the leftovers, not just the turkey.
Don’t forget to register to win a whole turkey, fully cooked and a children’s book about a turkey farm. All you have to do is leave a comment letting me know which kind of turkey you would love to have on Thanksgiving! You can choose whole turkeys that are browned and roasted, smoked or cajun. The giveaway will close on November 17 at midnight. Be sure not to miss out!
This post was sponsored by the Indiana Soybean Alliance. Opinions and recommendations are all mine.
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A smoked turkey sounds delicious!!
Our family loves smoked turkey! We enjoy it every year, a tradition started long ago by my husbands side of the family.
I would love a Cajun Turkey.
I like the browned and roasted turkeys.
A smoked turkey sounds yummy!
I would love the cajun turkey.
I would love a browned and roasted turkey to try! Heck, who am I kidding?! I would also like to try the Cajun and smoked turkey. Choices like these are fun to dream about winning!!! Thanks for the opportunity!!
Smoked turkey
Thanks for sharing these recipes, looking forward to trying a few this year!
I’d love to try a smoked turkey.
I love deep fried turkey! Also I am looking forward to making a butternut squash soufflรฉ and a sweet corn bread.
Browned and Roasted would be awesome!
Surprise me!!!!
Plain ol’ roast turkey – the dark meat!
I would love a smoked turkey for Thanksgiving! It sounds delicious!
Browned and roasted, for sure!
Yunmy browned and roasted!
Browned and roasted!
Thank you for offering a free turkey! It would be great to win! Good luck to all!
I would love a browned and roasted turkey
Good ole’ traditional btown and roasted ๐
love Cajun turkey! Can’t wait to try your recipes.
Love your recipies. I would love a brown and roasted turkey. Have a happy Thanksgiving!
I think I could gain 10pounds just looking at all these recipes.
A smoked turkey sounds amazing.
Browned and baked
I think I would like Browned & Roasted — although they ALL sound good!
I would most like a Browned & Roasted Turkey ๐ Thank you!
Smoked turkey!
Love to receive the Cajun turkey. Thanks!
Smoked turkey!! Bless you and your family!!
I would love to try a Cajun turkey! Something different for a change! Thanks for the generous giveaway!!
I’d like to try a smoked turkey.
I’ll take the good old roasted turkey. It pleases everyone, even though this year we are having Thanksgiving in a restaurant in Dearborn, MI!!!
I’ve never had the pleasure of trying a smoked turkey, I would love to try it, really sounds wonderful! Thank you for this wonderful giveaway and best of luck to everyone! ๐ Happy Holidays!
i would love any one i didnt have to cook
I may have to move back to Indiana!!! The whole spread looks like Grandma’s table. Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy.
smoked turkey for sure!