ST. PAUL — Erica Sawatzke, a sixth-generation turkey grower with Oakdale Farms in Douglas County , said her family used to travel the state to “show” turkeys in the ’30s when the business first came to Minnesota.

The practice of showing turkeys has since dwindled, but Sawatzke’s family has stayed in the business as it’s climbed to national dominance over the decades. Her dynasty is just one of 600 turkey farms across the state that work to produce the birds year-round, not just for Thanksgiving.

In 2024, Minnesota produced 34 million turkeys, accounting for 16% of all turkeys produced in the U.S, according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Minnesota’s turkey production accounts for 14% of the state’s total agricultural production and generates roughly $1 billion a year, acco

See Full Page