October is a Time to Start “Talking Turkey”

By Ron Eichner

Hi folks. October is the first full month of fall in the Northern Hemisphere, marked by the changing colors of the leaves and cooler weather. Oktoberfest, a German event centered around Munich, runs from September 20 to October 5. With our family's German heritage, we celebrate Oktoberfest on our family farm throughout the month of October.

October is also when it is time to start talking turkey. We are the only farm in the North Hills that raises two flocks of turkeys from arriving as day-old poults. I act as Mother Hen for 19 weeks and I’m responsible for their total welfare. I express countless times to the turkeys, “the joy you all will bring to the tables.” 

We have a huge demand for our fresh turkeys each year; however, we are limited to processing only 540 turkeys annually for Thanksgiving. Our two-day processing involves over 20 family members and friends. We could easily sell a couple of thousand turkeys each year, but even if I doubled our turkey count to 1,100 turkeys, I still wouldn’t have enough family and friends to help with the processing.

We take turkey orders throughout the month of October from our customers who had a turkey the previous year. We also have a new turkey order list each year, which allows customers to have a chance to get a fresh turkey, depending on the number of cancellations I receive each year. Our customers stop by the store to “talk turkey” and decide what size they would like to order. We don’t take phone orders.

The month of October ends with Halloween on the 31st. It’s a month full of visiting family farms for pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks, seasonal vegetables, apples, and apple cider. Some area farms offer hayrides and pumpkin patches as well. 

There are many haunted houses and Halloween displays in our area, and one of the best and scariest is Haunted Hillview Manor and Scare Manor in New Castle. Our farm friend Carrie Triko and her staff put a lot of time into creating spooky and scary experiences for a fun time through the month of October.

Our family farm also promotes Oktoberfest with our homemade fresh pork sausages, bratwurst, kielbasa, and homemade fermented sauerkraut in pints and quarts. Pumpkins of all sizes, gourds, and corn stalks will be available.

We have a new addition to our farm: Don purchased four cute, friendly miniature goats that love to be petted. Don has two sets of Kunekune piglets, so both new additions are a treat for the kids and grandkids. Cousin Matt’s large, hardy mums are a steal for the money. We sell Michelle’s famous buckeyes by the dozen, along with homemade cookies and Diane’s homemade biscotti.

Our family farm, nestled in a valley, is a year-round destination for farm products and homemade items. We are open seven days a week year-round. You are all welcome to visit Eichner’s Whole Farm and Greenhouses at 285 Richard Road, Wexford. Bring a friend and be a friend and get “the rest of the story.”