The Turkey On Your Thanksgiving Table Is Probably From North Carolina
When you think of agriculture from the Tar Heel State, you might think cotton, tobacco or chickens. But let’s talk turkey. The turkey on your Thanksgiving table is probably from North Carolina.
Poultry is huge business in our state. You can’t argue with facts. According to the North Carolina Poultry Federation, poultry ranks number one in the industry and created hundreds of thousands of jobs. According to our source, The Shelby Star, 148,000 people are employed in the poultry agriculture industry in North Carolina. It has an economic impact of almost 40 billion dollars.
Chickens and turkeys tally up to almost 50 percent of North Carolina’s farms. The Shelby Star tells us that 5,700 families in North Carolina are poultry farmers. We love our chicken and we love our turkeys. North Carolina ranked second in the United States for turkey production. Other top turkey producing states are Minnesota, Arkansas, Indiana,Missouri,Virginia,Iowa, and California.
State veterinarian Dr. Mike Martin is reported in the Shelby Star, “It’s an incredibly important industry to North Carolina, one that we’re involved in all segments of the market, and it’s one that we work with industry very closely to protect and develop,”.
Turkey tracking started in North Carolina in 1929 officially. Turkeys, of course, have been produced here since North Carolina was a colony. The turkey on your Thanksgiving table is probably from North Carolina. To learn more get details from the Shelby Star right here.
4 Types Of People You Will Find At Thanksgiving Turkey Trot
The Costume Runner
Here is the spectacle runner, who is decked out in a giant turkey costume. They can’t breathe let alone run, but they certainly can waddle. If this person finishes actually runs and finishes the race, it is usually by Christmas time. Nonetheless, you must respect the fact that lots of thought and deliberation went into this decision. It may even take longer for the person to get properly fitted in the morning to get ready for the trot than it does for the actual turkey to cook.
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The I Need To Win And Beat The Best Time Ever Runner
With all due respect, this runner is there an hour early stretching, even though they already completely stretched at home prior to eating a full protein breakfast. This participant is fully rested, fully hydrated, and plans to smoke you like you are the turkey. Furthermore, while you are trucking through the first mile, gasping for breath, this runner is going to pass, but going the other direction. That is because this person finished the race already and is simply running back to the starting line as their “cool down.” We get it, your cross-country skills are superhuman, and you now own the Turkey Trot best time. Just don’t be the person that beats the day’s honoree.
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The Still Awake From Last Night "Runner"
It’s common knowledge that the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving is one of the biggest party nights on the planet. It’s a special occasion where people come out of the woodwork and return to their hometown. The local pubs may make their annual quota based on Thanksgiving Eve sales. It’s great fun for sure, as long you have a responsible ride home. For some though, they have not even been home yet. It’s much more convenient to walk two blocks to the left to the downtown starting line at sunrise than it is to trek a half of a mile down Main Street to sleep it off for a few hours. This person looks and smells like the party. If there are woods adjacent to the 5k running route, you will usually find this runner in there immediately.
The Socialite Runner
Many towns that host Thanksgiving races are deep with tradition and local history. The families that call this place home often go back generations. Somehow, your grandmother had the same 4th grade teacher that your daughter currently has. The socialite is there to talk to everyone. They are in full-blown campaign mode, yet they are not running for anything. They simply love everything that has to do with their hometown and their mission for Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, is to see literally everyone, and spread some spirit. You have to respect that.
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