The turkey adventure is almost over, (we have a few frozen ones left). I’m calling it a success, because we are getting great feedback from our customers, and we received an education. Turkey-directed learning is underrated!
About six weeks before our processing date at Twin Cities Pack,I decided to call and make sure everything was lined up. The owner said no, someone called and cancelled our appointment. I was able to reschedule for the week before Thanksgiving, but this meant that the turkeys would be frozen.
I was in shock, because I knew that many of our customers expected a fresh turkey for Thanksgiving, and may cancel if we no longer offered that option. I was depressed for about a half hour, but then I realized that we could still offer fresh turkeys if we processed on-farm, and customers traveled to the farm to pick one up.
I checked with an Amish neighbor who had the necessary poultry processing equipment, and yes we would be able to rent it from him and he would also provide his expertise. The last poultry I butchered myself was about 20 years ago as a character-building exercise.
So we offered two options: a frozen turkey from a state-inspected facility, or drive to the farm for a home-butchered fresh turkey. A few people cancelled, but most stayed with each option split about equally.
I took some of the turkeys to Twin Pack and then picked up the birds the next day and delivered to a central point. It went fine.
Then the Monday before Thanksgiving dawned, and I did my chores quickly and went and picked up Benny, my Amish neighbor, and his poultry processing equipment. We used a propane tank to heat the water for the scalder. The plucker ran off of hydraulics. I used one of my tractors to run that, but had to change one of the ends of the hydraulic lines, no problem.
We set up and began with me doing the killing and scalding, Braden plucking, my Dad and my Uncle Carl doing quality control, and Benny gutting. Braden also learned how to gut as he took a real interest in the whole process.
I’m not going to kid you, it was gruesome. A few customers came before I had a chance to clean up. I’m amazed they didn’t jump in their cars and drive away as I looked like something out of a horror movie, with blood spattering my face and glasses.
But after I had a chance to clean up I felt better and actually enjoyed the rest of the day as I had a chance to visit with many of our customers and even gave short tours to some of them. It was a great way to end our turkey project, and reminded me why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.
Curiousfarmer 
That was an ordeal Matthew, did you find out who called the processor to cancel? Glad things turned out good, I have always found instead of feeling helpless when things have gone wrong with no fault of your own is to take charge and and do something about it like you did. Good post!
Thanks, Gordon! I agree. As soon as I came up with a plan I felt better.
As far as calling the processor, a name was said, but no one claims responsibility. Best to just let it go, it all worked out in the end.
Those sorts of jobs have the potential to become unendurable slogs, but with the right crew of motivated people they can actually be pretty pleasant, even memorable, events. I’m glad it turned out to be the latter.
I’m often reminded just how much of farming relies on a network of people with special skills and special equipment being ready to help each other.