A Guide to Our Local Thanksgiving Turkeys
We have three local family farms raising our Thanksgiving turkeys this year. Want to know more about how the farms raise their holiday birds? Here’s your guide!
Stonewood Farm
Orwell, VT
About the Farm
The Stone family has been raising turkeys in Orwell for 25 years. Origionally a dairy farm, the Stone family milked cows for decades. Then, given the difficult economics of dairy production, they diversified into turkeys, building an on-farm, USDA-inspected processing facility, and converting the barns that used to hold heifers into turkey pens.
The last of the cows left just a few years ago and Paul Stone and Siegrid Mertens, the third generation of farmers in the family, expanded their flock to produce both holiday turkeys and frozen turkey sausage.
One of Stonewood's Turkey Barns. Photo by Meg Klepack
Turkey Housing?
Stonewood Farm’s turkeys live in 5 open-air barns, giving the birds fresh air and sunlight. The birds do not have access to the outdoors.
One of Stonewood's Turkey Barns. Photo by Meg Klepack
Pasture-Raised?
Stonewood keeps their birds indoors. The farmers started raising all their poultry indoors after the avian flu scare a few years ago – hoping to keep the birds healthier by isolating them from the diseases carried by wild birds.
Stonewood's birds have a pretty good view of the mountains! Photo by Meg Klepack
GMO-Free Grain?
Turkeys eat grain - a feed mix containing corn, soybeans and various vitamins and minerals. Stonewood Farm feeds their birds conventional (as opposed to organic) feed, meaning that the corn and soy are genetically engineered (GMO). Genetic engineering is a complex topic - more information can be found here.
Antibiotics?
Stonewood Farm does not use any antibiotics. While larger scale conventional turkey operations feed antibiotics to their birds on a daily basis to keep the birds healthy, Stonewood Farm uses sanitary practices and other preventive methods to keep their birds healthy.
Hormones?
Stonewood Farm does not use any artificial growth hormones. Luckily, artificial growth hormones are never a concern when selecting turkey as Federal regulations prohibit the use of artificial hormones when raising poultry.
Misty Knoll Farm
New Haven, VT
About the Farm
Misty Knoll Farm is known throughout Vermont for their local chicken and turkey. Farmer Rob Litch raises chickens and turkeys with his uncle, John Palmer. The 400 acre farm was a dairy operation until 1991 when Rob and John started raising poultry. The farm now raises over 200,000 chickens each year and 20,000 turkeys for Thanksgiving. The birds are processed on-site in the farm’s own USDA inspected facility.
Turkey Housing?
Misty Knoll turkeys are raised in barns. When the birds are old enough, the farmers start opening the doors to the barn during good weather, allowing the birds outside. At night and on poor weather days the birds are kept in the barn to keep them safe from predators and the elements. The birds roam on a large paddock area behind the barn, an area that is bedded down with hay once the grass gets worn down.
Pasture-Raised?
While the Misty Knoll turkeys are allowed outdoors, the birds are not integrated into a pasture rotation – while some farms move their turkeys every day to give them access to fresh grass, Misty Knoll’s turkeys hang out in a fixed outdoor pen.
GMO-Free Grain?
Turkeys eat grain - a feed mix containing corn, soybeans and various vitamins and minerals. Misty Knoll feeds their birds conventional (as opposed to organic) feed, meaning that the corn and soy are genetically engineered (GMO). Genetic engineering is a complex topic - more information can be found here.
Antibiotics?
Misty Knoll did not use any antibiotics on their flock this year. While larger scale conventional turkey operations feed antibiotics to their birds on a daily basis to keep the birds healthy, Misty Knoll uses sanitary practices and other preventive methods to keep their birds healthy.
Hormones?
Misty Knoll does not use any artificial growth hormones. Luckily, artificial growth hormones are never a concern when selecting turkey as Federal regulations prohibit the use of artificial hormones when raising poultry.
Tangletown Farm
Middlesex, VT
About the Farm
Tangletown Farm is a small-scale, diversified family farm in Central Vermont. Lila Bennett, her partner David Robb, and their three children raise vegetables, chickens, turkeys, laying hens, ducks, pheasants, rabbits, pigs, and beef cows. The 70 acre farm has a CSA and sells meat and eggs to their local schools. This year they are raising 250 turkeys for Thanksgiving.
Last year, the farm purchased the mobile poultry processing unit from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, allowing them to provide our market with pastured chicken and turkeys.
The Tangletown Turkeys. Photo by Lila Bennett
Turkey Housing?
Tangletown's turkeys live outside. The farmers provide a sheltered structure for them to sleep under at night and during poor weather. During the days, the turkeys roam on grassy pastures.
Lila, David, and their three children. Photo courtesy of Tangletown Farm
Pasture Raised?
Tangletown’s turkeys are pasture raised, meaning the birds are out on grassy pasture every day, protected from predators by an electric fence. Their shelter, food and water are moved to fresh pasture every day. As the birds are rotated to different pastures, they help fertilize the soils of the farm and the birds get access to fresh grass and bugs. While the birds are still fed grain, they also forage on grass and bugs.
GMO-Free Grain?
Tangletown feeds their birds local grain, but it can't be guaranteed the grain is GMO-free. They purchase the feed from Green Mountain Feeds in Bethel, VT. The feed company buys most of their grain from Vermont farmers as well as some farms in Quebec and upstate New York.
Antibiotics?
Tangletown Farm does not use any antibiotics to keep their turkeys healthy. The farm uses preventive practices to keep their birds healthy.
Hormones?
Tangletown does not use any artificial growth hormones. Luckily, artificial growth hormones are never a concern when selecting turkey as Federal regulations prohibit the use of artificial hormones when raising poultry.
Adams Turkey Farm
Westford, VT
About the Farm
Located in Westford, VT, Adams Turkey Farm has been run by Dave and Judy Adams since 1981. This diversified, family owned farm raises turkeys and chickens as well as an array of vegetables and maple products.
Turkey Housing?
Adams Turkey Farm turkeys are kept in an open air barn where the sides of the barn are open to ensure fresh air. As the weather and temperature drop, the turkeys are kept inside to minimize the risk of illness.
Pasture Raised?
Adams Turkey Farm turkeys are raised indoors to minimize risk of developing illnesses.
GMO-Free Grain?
They are fed animal by-product free vegetable grain.
Antibiotics?
Adams Turkey Farm does not use any antibiotics to keep their turkeys healthy and the farm uses preventive practices to keep their birds healthy.
Hormones?
Adams Turkey Farm does not use any artificial growth hormones. Luckily, artificial growth hormones are never a concern when selecting turkey as Federal regulations prohibit the use of artificial hormones when raising poultry.