The Thanksgiving edition of my favorite food mags arrived about 2 weeks ago, giving me ample time to peruse the recipes and start testing to see which will make the cut for the Thanksgiving menu this year. I have more than enough time to get recipes figured out, but turkey-time is now! If I want anything other than a Butterball on my Thanksgiving table, planning early is essential.

The past few years I’ve gone with the stately Bell and Evans Turkey that makes its way onto a silver platter and served at the White House every year. Each turkey is fed a diet that consits of corn, soy, vitamins and minerals, never any animal by-products. They’re free to roam, with plenty of fresh air and clean well water. Each house produces only one flock per year to avoid disease and the need for drugs. I’ve always been impressed with the quality and flavor.

 Photo Courtesy of Curt Gibbs.

This year, I want to go one step further and order a heritage turkey - a variety of domestic turkey which retains historic characteristics that are no longer present in the majority of turkeys sold at supermarkets today. Heritage turkeys are physically capable of being raised in a manner that more closely matches the natural behavior and life cycle of wild turkeys.

Many people have never tasted a heritage turkey (myself included), since these breeds were displaced by the Broad-Breasted White Turkey in the 20th century. Anyone I’ve talked to that has actually tried a Heritage Turkey says the flavor will knock your socks off and beats any Broad-Breasted Whites aka Butterballs. They have a richer, more intense turkey flavor than commercial birds. One hallmark of the heritage turkey is that it mates according to nature, unlike the American Thanksgiving classic, the Broad-Breasted White, which has been bred for white meat and is so top-heavy it can’t walk or breed naturally. Sad huh?

Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch, based out of Lindsborg, Kansas is one of the few farmers in the country raising heritage turkeys and they sell them through their website. Not sure about availability, as I have not placed my order yet, but from the look of their site it seems that they are not sold out just yet. But watch out, I might just beat you to it. : )