Thanksgiving Turkey

Happy Thanksgiving! Iowa City farmer, Susan Young, shared her knowledge of turkey farming with elementary students through a FarmChat® live Facebook event.

November is Thanksgiving, so Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach-Linn County partnered to host a live virtual field trip from a small-diversified turkey farm on November 13, 2017. Students met Susan Young, owner of Lucky Star Farm.

This event was a time for teachers and students to checkout FarmChat® and experience a taste of agriculture. The program is a perfect complement to elementary life science standards and STEM learning.

The live Facebook FarmChat® was designed for K-5 students, but the event was open to anyone who wanted to learn about turkeys and Iowa agriculture! Susan Young is a former teacher and a current Johnson County 4-H leader who is passionate about agriculture. Susan and her family manage 100 chickens, 14 turkeys, goats and a llama.

It turned out to be a great afternoon in the field despite the morning fog. Beginning at 2:00 p.m., we introduced all parties and began with a brief background of Susan and her farm before she jumped in with how she cares for the turkeys.

“Cool topic! My students enjoyed seeing and learning all about turkeys so close to Thanksgiving,” said a local teacher.

Linn County Farm Bureau Education Outreach and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach-Linn County will continue to offer this unique and real-world curriculum opportunity to other schools. Do you have topic in mind? Want us to come to your classroom? Email mball@ifbf.org.

Link to turkey FarmChat®: https://www.facebook.com/LinnCoAg/videos/367016983726753/

Turkey Facts:

1. Male turkey is called a tom

2. Female turkey is called a hen

3. A baby turkey is called a poult

4. A group of turkeys is called a flock

5. Turkeys are actually living dinosaurs- they are closely related to Apatosaurus, Tyrannosaurus, and Velociraptor.

6. Most domesticated turkeys are broad-breasted white turkeys.

7. Farm sizes vary from 5-20,000+.

8. Full grown toms can weigh more than 45 pounds.

9. Turkeys eat soybeans and corn.

10. Turkeys have a wattle under their beak and a snood on top.