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“The diets help maintain their growth and they stay healthier, they grow better. Keeping the turkeys healthy is the best thing for the birds.”

Kent Meschke
Turkey Farmer

Name: Kent Meschke
Location: Little Falls, Minnesota
Years farming: I have helped on the family farm ever since I was a child. I returned to the farm a few years after graduating from college, which was about 25 years ago.
My family: My wife and I have been married for 25 years and we have two daughters in college, Tanya and Katie. My children always come home on college breaks and help as much as possible; the farm has always been a special place for them to be with me. My parents, Garth and Marie, have retired from farming and one of my three brothers used to work in the business, but because of an injury he is no longer able to.
How I came to be a farmer: I always enjoyed working on our turkey farm growing up. I knew I wanted to attend college whether I returned to the farm or not. I pursued a degree in business administration and initially believed I would work in the finance industry. After some time, my father wanted to expand the farm and asked my wife and me if we’d like to move back to Little Falls and join my brother’s family in the operation of the farm. Since working behind a desk everyday wasn’t exactly fulfilling my job expectations, I jumped at the chance to go back to doing something I knew I loved to do. Since my wife did not come from a farming background, I was grateful she trusted me completely and was willing to help me follow my dream, which very quickly became our dream.
The best thing about being a farmer: I would have to say the best thing about turkey farming is the self-satisfaction you have at the end of each and every day knowing that you are doing the best job possible providing your family, friends, and neighbors with a quality food product that is so healthy. I believe whole-heartedly in the nutritional benefits that turkey provides because it is high in protein and so low in fat. Plus, it tastes great!
My personal philosophy on farming: It’s very humbling to believe that I have such an important role in the daunting task of feeding the world. My philosophy is to make positive contributions to consumers while respecting the environment and being good stewards of the land. I also believe education is essential to the success and continuation of our industry.

Turkey Production in Minnesota and the United States

• Minnesota is the number one turkey producing and processing state in the U.S.
• Approximately 250 Minnesota farm families raise about 45 million turkeys annually.
• 95 percent of Americans surveyed by the National Turkey Federation eat turkey at Thanksgiving.
• Turkey farmers are able to feed more people than ever before. Today, turkeys produce twice as much meat with half as much feed compared with the 1930s. Translation - smaller carbon footprint.
• Turkey manure is an excellent "green" fertilizer for plants and crops, and improves the quality of soil and its ability to hold carbon.
• Turkey is year-round source of protein for consumers, thanks to the greater variety and convenience of turkey products available today - including tenderloins, ground turkey, breakfast sausage, and deli meat.
• Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey as the official United States bird. Dismayed by the news of the selection of the bald eagle, Franklin replied, “The turkey is a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original of America.”
• A large group of turkeys is called a flock.
• A baby turkey is called a poult and is tan and brown.
• More than 25 percent of U.S. households consume turkey deli meat at least once every two weeks.

For more information about turkey farming in Minnesota, please visit http://www.minnesotaturkey.com.

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