ZenBlog

STATE COLLEGE – Time is running out if you haven't gotten your turkey yet, there's just a few days left before Thanksgiving!

Monday folks in State College picked up their turkeys from Penn State's annual sale. It's the prime time for everyone to get their turkey for the holiday.

The sale started at 11 a.m. but people showed up early. Over 100 hungry customers were lined up before 10 a.m. to get the bird of their choice.

"Get up at 5 o'clock, come in and get in line," customer Bill Lamont said.

Lamont came to State College from Huntingdon after his wife encouraged him to.

Penn State poultry club drawing long lines of hundreds of hungry shoppers.

The first come, first served turkey sale is an annual tradition in State College.

"We work really hard to provide a very high-quality product," turkey sales chair Alicia Gates said.

All the birds are harvested by the students a week prior to Thanksgiving.

"In processing plants the turkeys go through one round of processing and they're done, but with us before they're bagged and sent over to the meats labs,” Gates said. “We actually have a second round of processing to make sure of all the parts are pulled out of the bird and that they're cleaned and well dressed."

Because of the high demand each customer is limited to three turkeys each.

The turkeys go for $2 dollars per pound and range from about 15 pounds and up to over 35 pounds.

"Look at that 24-pounder," Lamont said.

The turkeys attract loyal customers.

"I've been here now 14 years... and this is the 14th year I've done it,” customer Kurt Swagler said. “And so it's been a great tradition for us to have."

Kurt says the key to the right turkey is freshness.

"I don't think they'd eat any other turkey other than the one that was raised here at Penn State and so it's great to support the students," Swagler said.

Some people even drive several hours to buy their birds from Penn State.

"These turkey's are going to go to Pittsburgh," customer Yvonne Kollman said.

For many it can also be a social occasion, too.

"Enjoyed talking to Jack,” Lamont said. “That's what made it all good, talking to Jack in line. "

The sale helps raise between $12,000 and $15,000 a year for the PSU Poultry Science Club. This also gives students hands-on experience in not just poultry production -- but marketing, customer relations and more.

"Allows us to get the experience, to go out and meet people in the industry and it's very, very helpful for our students," Gates said.

According to the club they started with almost 400 turkeys. According to officials they still have 58 turkeys left between 21.7 and 34 pounds.

The sale will continue Tuesday morning around 8:30. You can also contact them at pjc19@psu.edu for questions or you can monitor information on their website at https://agsci.psu.edu/clubs/poultry-science/activities/fall-activities/fall-turkey-harvest

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