Murray's Farm

Drove three hours out to Tamaqua, PA to visit Koch's Farm. This family farm produces all of Murray's turkeys. It's surrounded by hills and silos with no cell phone service and not surprisingly, I had pull into another farm to ask for Koch's farm. Directions include a bit of the over the river, through the woods to Grandmother's house. Mr. Koch had us over for lunch with ginger teriyaki turkey, smoked turkey, spicy Korean turkey(kimchi turkey?!), and turkey on white heroes. Seven years ago, he went natural after almost going bankrupt like many family farms who raise commodity birds that couldn't make a sustainable living. The tilting mechanical trays of eggs mimic the hen (moms) who would ordinarily rotate the eggs in the nest. I forgot to ask about turkey eggs? Can you eat turkey eggs? Hmm. The little things get debeaked (burnt off) and it falls off after one week's time. The large toms and hens live freely outside in a large pen. The space the turkeys get are more than commodity birds which helps in the loading and slaughtering since they are more at ease with the world. Good metaphor for humans as well. I wonder what will happen to the next generation of farmers? Who will inherit the raising of animals and care of US agriculture? How many 20-40 year olds view farming as a "good career"? Will all this go to the big multinationals of the world?