The tents are taken down, the cooler looks empty, and our phones have quieted down after days of our unofficial turkey hotline. Yes, we’ve wrapped up another TurkeyFest. In the days after, I’m always filled with deep gratitude for all it takes to pull off our annual turkey season. I’ll also admit to feeling a bit of astonishment that our small team pulls off such a feat each November. From our own market to our retail partners across the region, the Thanksgiving season is a puzzle we construct all year.

Thankfully, we don’t do any of this alone, which leaves me with this annual appreciation for all the partners it takes to bring our Ferndale turkeys to the table. From the wee-early morning truck drivers picking up orders for delivery, to our partner farms helping us to ensure we hit all the turkey sizes. Our egg farmer showing up on short notice when our market shelves went bare, or the unexpected great media spotlight on our farm this fall. These and countless other pieces came together to make the season work. And, of course, our Ferndale team who spend months preparing. From the moment the poults arrived this summer until we placed the turkeys into car trunks last week, our team rallies to make it all happen.

It shouldn’t go without saying that none of this happens without you – the customer. You see the difference, both in our farming practices and in our farm-to-table model. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I’ll say again that this is not the way most of agriculture works today. We thank you for being a champion for local foods and – we trust – a better Thanksgiving turkey.

In that spirit, we hope to see you again soon at Ferndale Market. We’re set for the Christmas season, both at our on-farm market and with our gift box options available online. With tremendous gratitude for your support, I wish you a wonderful holiday season!