We are pleased to introduce the BC Turkey Farmer Video Series.
Last June, we stopped at three different farms to connect with our registered turkey farmers, giving a face to the individuals who made big family feasts like Thanksgiving possible. At each stop, we gained on-the-ground footage of what it means to be a turkey farmer in today’s age, including technological advances, biosecurity measures, and the joys of caring for their birds.
The series itself will feature short videos tackling different questions about our industry: from whether turkey is hard to cook—spoiler: it’s not!—all the way to the most rewarding aspect of farming in a province like British Columbia. At the heart of each video are the individuals who work every day, twenty-four-seven, to produce safe, fresh, locally-sourced turkey products for our tables.
We couldn’t be prouder to share this with all of you.
One of the most important parts of turkey farming that our farmers stressed was the quality of their barns. From fresh sawdust on the flooring to soft bedding for the birds, the conditions at all hours of the day are clean, dry, cozy, and warm.
Along the floors, feed and water lines send a steady supply of fresh food and drink for the birds, keeping them full and satiated all day long. Vents ensure any airflow is properly filtered before it makes its way into the barn, keeping any respiratory issues far from mind, which is necessary for poultry. Heaters bask the entire room in a soothing warmth, almost as if perpetual sunshine has reached the interiors. With ample room to run from one end of the room to the other, the birds have lots of space and are never crowded together.
For almost everyone we spoke with, farming was part of the family history. Childhoods spent on the farm turned to adulthood and careers, and lessons they’ve decided they want to pass on to their own children—some even taking over certain roles as they’ve grown old enough for that responsibility. On one of our farms in Langley, three generations live on the same property.
With technological advancements, now the farmers have alerts sent straight to their phones whenever temperatures, feed or water lines, and other issues may arise. At all times, farmers can have a read of current systems and whether they’re offline. It means the birds receive immediate responses if anything were to go wrong.
What keeps our farmers going during the tough days? Knowing their job is important for the community and province as a whole. A large part of physical and mental health takes place in the kitchen when we prioritize nutritious food for our bodies, and our farmers are the ones bringing those to the table so we can all #GatherAroundBCTurkey.
By providing us with safe, ethically-raised and locally-sourced turkey products, farmers fill an important role in our agricultural system. Without them we wouldn’t have nutritious proteins that provide us with the nutrients and vitamins essential for us to flourish on a day-to-day basis. Turkey is a lean protein with less fat per gram than chicken. Loaded with iron, zinc, potassium, and more, it is a powerhouse when it comes to fueling our bodies.
Stay tuned on our social accounts like Instagram and Facebook as we unveil two new videos each month. Some of the areas we’ll cover are how farmers care for their birds, what is biosecurity, why turkey isn’t just for the holidays, how farmers overcome challenges, ways you can continue to support BC’s turkey industry, and much more.
We can’t wait to share these videos with you and help spread awareness about our BC turkey farmers!