Talking turkey at the fair: Gobblers strut their stuff as the first ever class of market turkey projects appear at the Tuscarawas County Fair

By Jennifer Kneuss
September 19, 2011
1083

Summary: 21 tom turkeys are a big attraction at the 2011 Tuscarawas County Fair, as the first ever market turkey 4-H project proves to be popular with both 4-H members and spectators. Gobble gobble. There is plenty of gobbling going on at the Tuscarawas County Fair, where 21 market turkey projects are making their inaugural appearance at the fair. The stands were packed with curious onlookers as the turkeys slowly strutted around the arena, puffing out their feathers and appearing completely at ease in the arena. Weve had fancy turkeys before, but this is the first year for the market turkey project, said small animal committee member Linda Newell. We had a couple of kids ask us why we are the only fair that did not have a market turkey project, so we started and here we are. We didnt realize how many kids were really interested! We figured wed have maybe ten kids sign up at the most, but weve had a wonderful turnout. It was awesome. Once we told them it was a go, they just signed up. We had a clinic this summer to help the kids learn how to show turkeys. Frances Oliver is president of the small animal committee, and is in charge of the poultry judging. We started out with 25 kids registered, and we had a couple of kids who just did not or could not complete, so we have 21 in the class today, noted Oliver. All of the kids get their turkeys from the same place, Ag Forte, a hatchery in Danville. We picked up all the birds at one time, and got them out to the kids on the same day. Each youth got five chicks to start, and got them the same day they hatched, which was in late May, said Oliver. They raised their turkey for 16 weeks, and had a minimum of twenty pounds that the birds had to reach by the fair. We had one bird at 20.9, but the average weight is around 35 to 40 pounds. We did have one top out at 46 pounds. All of the turkeys are toms, or males, and take the same type of care that chickens do, requiring constant light and a steady supply of food and water. As part of the judging, the 4-Hers had to hoist their turkeys into the air, holding them upside down, while the judge, Rick Bokanyi of Columbus, checked the birds for market desirability. Younger, smaller members required adult assistance for this step, for in some cases, the birds weighed about 50% of the childrens weight. This resulted in much wing flapping, filling the air with feathers. When the air cleared, it was Hannah Maxhimer of 4-H Junior Achievers whose forty pound turkey took home grand champion market turkey honors, with Shane Gardner of Backyard Buckeyes taking reserve grand champion. We fed him Purina Honor show feed. We had to keep the water clean every day, and do the pens. We also sprayed them with squirt guns when it was hot to keep them cool, said the young grand champion winner, who is in fifth grade at Strasburg Elementary. Maxhimers father said it took about 90 pounds of feed to raise the turkey, and it ate 10 pounds a week toward the end of summer. The chicks had a heat lamp for the first few weeks to keep warm, when, Maxhimer admitted, they were a lot cuter. By summer, the family had switched to fans to keep the birds cool and comfortable in spite of the heat. What will the young lady do with the money her turkey brings at auction? She only hesitated a moment before answering. Ill put it into a savings account. Oliver encourages buyers to come to the Saturday small animal auction at 3:00 pm in the main show arena. With our fair being so late in the year, we are perfect for this, because everyone can buy their Thanksgiving turkey at the county fair! Its a really big bird, so youd have to have a big family to feed.

Talking turkey at the fair: Gobblers strut their stuff as the first ever class of market turkey projects appear at the Tuscarawas County Fair

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