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