Can I get a turkey?

A couple of months ago Farra and I were at Curtis' stand at the Hillcrest Farmers Market getting some eggs and I asked him "Can I get a turkey for Thanksgiving?" He chuckled and said "Oh I'm sorry I'm all sold out", I could not believe it. Wait a minute, I actually can. He sells out of his 20 dozen eggs of his highly coveted Wynola pastured chicken eggs by 9am every Sunday, by the way they are $7. That's in 1 hour! Even though Farra goes every Sunday and buys a dozen eggs, which are always treated like gold in the house, we still couldn't get one.

Ever since I tried Curtis' chickens I knew that I wanted one for Thanksgiving this year. I dreamed about it. So I asked him if there was anyway I could go on a list in case someone cancelled, and he told me to email him. After emailing him he told me that he would guarantee a turkey that I could buy from him if I came out and helped him slaughter the turkeys. I don't have any experience with this at all, but I'm always up for an experience where I get be closer to the process of where my food comes from. I mean, shouldn't we know what it takes to get our turkey to our Thanksgiving dinner table?

Last Friday I had the opportunity to go out to Curtis Womach's Ranch out in Wynola with Steph and Michael from The Linkery as we were all on the same deal, "come help, get a turkey". As soon as we get there we are put right to work, Steph is in charge of chasing and catching them , Michael is all about reaching inside of them and taking out all their insides, and I'm on the "washing and packing up" job. It was a very grounded experience to actually be out there and participate on getting these turkeys from their home to other peoples homes.

Steph chasing the swift turkeys.

I know this image may be hard to look at, but this is the most humane to kill a turkey. The turkey is placed in these cones and then their neck gets sliced. Most commercial turkeys are slaughtered in ways that could possibly turn you into a vegetarian.

After they are killed the turkeys are thrown into this scalder so the feathers can be pulled out easier.

This spinner gets the feathers out pretty quickly.

Michael at his post taking the insides out.

Curtis at his craft.

Caught uploading a pic on facebook as I take a break from rinsing, washing, stuffing, and bagging the turkeys for the lucky ones.

In the fridge patiently waiting for Thanksgiving, and I will give thanks to this turkey for being part of our dinner.