WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES NOVEMBER 15, 2018 15
THANKSGIVING
Where does your turkey
come from? It does matter
It's 6 a.m. in Bell County, Texas. The
sun is yet to peek over the horizon
on what will become a steamy summer
day, but Darrell Glaser is already
strolling through his turkey houses to
ensure the birds on his family farm are
comfortable. The farm has been in Glaser's
family for nearly 100 years, and
Darrell and his family have spent nearly
every day tending to their turkeys.
At Bar G Farms, the Glasers - Darrell,
his four sons and his mother - focus
on raising healthy, happy birds. From
monitoring and protecting them
during a raucous Texas thunderstorm
to checking air and water quality, the
family does everything possible to
ensure the well-being of their turkeys.
"Animal welfare is very important to
all of us at Bar G Ranch," Darrell said.
"The happier and more comfortable the
animal, the healthier they are going
to be."
Shady Brook Farms(R) understands
the connection between family farms
and family holiday traditions. A November
2017 survey conducted by
Shady Brook Farms revealed that
80 percent of consumers agree that
during the holidays, it is important
for their turkey to be raised by a family
farm. Shady Brook Farms turkeys
raised by family farmers can be found
in local retailers in the eastern United
States.
In Central Missouri, Glenn and
Kathy Robertson have been raising
Shady Brook Farms turkeys for 45
years on their family farm, with
plenty of helping hands.
"On our farm, it has always been
a family event," Glenn said. "Kathy
and our four children have always
helped from getting ready for new
poults to cleaning the building when
they go to market. Now, my son, Ryan,
is going to take over with help from
our 15 grandchildren who all live on
the farm."
The Robertson family is very active
at church and in the local community.
Glenn coaches local basketball and
baseball teams, contributes on the
board of special services for special
needs children and serves as the Boy
Scouts' youth director. When the
Robertson family gathers for Thanksgiving
dinner, they will be thinking
about those who are spending time
together enjoying a turkey raised on
their farm.
Quality time together is also the
favorite part of Thanksgiving for the
Shepherd family in Coryell County,
Texas. In 2012, Jordan and Megan
Shepherd started raising turkeys on
Spurrin'S Farms.
"We were looking for a great place
to raise a family where we could live
and work together, where we could be
a part of each other's lives and help
to make a diff erence for the better,"
Jordan said. "Here we have found all
of that and more."
Jordan and Megan have two
children, Jaxon and Emma Rae, and
Megan's dad, Gene, joined them on the
farm. The Shepherd family raises turkeys
with care and compassion, and
best of all, they get to be a part of each
other's lives on a day-to-day basis.
These family farmers are thriving
raising holiday turkeys. They have a
passion for the time they spend together,
the well-being of their animals and
the work they do.
"We put our heart and soul into what
we do. We work long and odd hours to
make sure our turkeys are healthy and
safe," Darrell Glaser said. "Farming is
what we do, and we love it."
Courtesy BPT