Governor Asa Hutchinson joined agriculture leaders, industry partners, and 4-H and FFA representatives in declaring Nov. 21 to 27 as ‘Turkey Week’ in Arkansas, during a special ceremony at the State Capitol on Tuesday. The Turkey Week proclamation is meant to highlight the state’s turkey industry, and its value to Arkansas’ economy and agriculture industry.
The event featured two live turkeys: a Spanish Black, owned by Jackson Barber of Austin, Ark., and a Holland White, owned by Jackson Moore of Waldron.
“The poultry industry is one of Arkansas’s many great success stories. We put turkeys on tables all over the United States. Our ranking as the second-largest producer of turkeys is testimony to the hard work of our farmers. Young people such as Jackson Barber and Jackson Moore, who raised the turkeys for this year’s reading of the proclamation, ensure that this segment of our agricultural industry will continue to thrive,” said Governor Hutchinson.
Each year, agriculture contributes more the $21 billion in economic value to the state.
“The poultry industry, which includes turkey, chicken, and eggs, is an important part of Arkansas’s diverse agricultural landscape, representing more than 46 percent of our state’s total agricultural cash receipts,” said Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward. “We are thankful for the farmers who provide this protein throughout the entire year.”
Holly Duval, director of marketing and business development with The Poultry Federation, added that Thanksgiving week is the perfect time to recognize everyone involved in making Arkansas the second largest producer of turkeys in the nation. “Thank you to our dedicated farmers, who raise 31 million turkeys per year, and industry leaders, like Cargill and Butterball, for their impact on our state,” she said.
The full proclamation can be read here.
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