Most homes choose turkey for their Thanksgiving centerpieces each year. In fact, people love it so much, they’ve playfully nicknamed the holiday “turkey day.”
Grassway Organics in New Holstein considers every day “turkey day.”
They have 2010 acres of certified organic pasture.
The farm raised 200 white and brown turkeys for purchase at Thanksgiving this year.
"They're great on pasture, they're great at eating bugs and they're fun to be around,” said Grassway Organics owner Chaz Self.
Self purchased Grassway Organics about two years ago. All of the animals living on the farm, graze on certified organic pasture and eat all organic feeds.
Grassway Organics raises beef, chicken, turkey and eggs—which they sell in their on-site store.
"I love raising poultry. Meat birds aren't the most intellect, and I would say efficient on pasture. Turkeys are really the opposite,” said Chaz.
Turkeys on the farm help out in more ways than you’d think.
"Turkeys are a great part of the circle that we use. We’re moving them twice a day,” explained Chaz. “Moving them constantly allows us to efficiently disperse manure without getting a tractor and spraying it."
Thanksgiving time is when Grassway’s turkeys really shine.
“To have our turkey on the table is a really great honor,” said Chaz.
It’s an honor that Chaz believes comes with highs and lows.
“We consider ourselves, 'one bad day" farmers,' he explained. “They're going to have one bad day, and it's the hardest part of protein farming, the day they leave. It comes with the cost of farming. We’re happy to raise another successful batch of turkeys."
Grassway Organics is open five days a week. For more information on their products, you can visit their website.
