It was an exciting day on the steps of the Arkansas State Capitol during Thanksgiving week. The Poultry Federation joined forces with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Arkansas FFA, and Arkansas 4H to be a part of the annual Turkey Proclamation presentation.
The Turkey Week proclamation highlights the state’s turkey industry and its value to Arkansas’s economy and agriculture industry. TPF members Butterball and Cargill also joined the celebration.
Representatives from Conway County's 4H program, Victoria and Kristin Lehmann, were proud to have the turkey they raised, provided by Butterball and named, "Gertrude," chosen for this year's celebration.
Marvin Childers, president of The Poultry Federation, added that Thanksgiving week is the perfect time to recognize everyone involved in making Arkansas the third largest producer of turkeys in the nation. “Thank you to our dedicated farmers, who raise 31.5 million turkeys per year, and industry leaders, like Cargill and Butterball, for their impact on our state,” he said.
"Agriculture is our state’s Number One industry, and it has been successful due to the hard work and perseverance of the farmers and ranchers who work hard every day to provide our state with healthy food. Arkansas poultry farmers produce over 11 percent of all turkeys raised in the United States, making the poultry industry a significant part of our state’s economy. I am grateful for all our farmers do for Arkansas," said Governor Hutchinson.
“The poultry industry, which includes turkey, chicken and eggs, is an important part of Arkansas’s diverse agricultural landscape, representing more than 50 percent of agriculture’s total cash receipts," said Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward. “We are thankful for the farmers who provide this protein throughout the entire year.”
Source: Arkansas Department of Agriculture
