Learn to Talk Turkey at Free Clermont Event
Immediate Release
November 4, 2011
Batavia, Ohio. According to the National Turkey Federation (NTF), almost 90 percent of us eat turkey on Thanksgiving; over 46 million turkeys will be consumed at family dinners across the country on Thursday, November 24, 2011. If you want to brush up on turkey trivia before the big feast, check out the free Turkey Talk on Sunday, November 20 beginning at 1:30 p.m. in the Pattison Park Lodge, located at 2228 SR50 near Owensville. “We’ll talk about turkey history and trivia, make a craft, and snack on turkey-shaped cookies during the afternoon event,” said Clermont Parks’ Chief Naturalist Keith Robinson. “Families and individuals are welcome to attend. No pre-registration is required.”
Robinson will share lots of turkey trivia with those attending the Turkey Talk. “I think many people are surprised when they learn that wild turkeys can fly for short distances at speeds up to 55 miles per hour. They can also run up to 20 miles per hour,” he said. “Domesticated turkeys cannot fly. Male turkeys have beards; they are called Tom turkeys while females are called hens. Only male turkeys gobble; hens make more of a clicking noise.”
Turkey is popular in this country and in outer space! The NTF reports that when Ohio astronaut Neil Armstrong sat down to eat his first meal on the moon, the food packets contained roasted turkey with all the trimmings. President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863. “Did you know there was a push to have the turkey declared our national bird?” said Robinson. “Benjamin Franklin thought the turkey was a more respectable bird than the bald eagle for the honor of national bird!” For more information about the Turkey Talk, contact the Clermont County Park District at 876-9013 or visit the website www.clermontparks.org. To watch an interview with Robinson about the Turkey Talk, visit the website http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Co098vuGWE.
Pictured above: Clermont Parks’ Chief Naturalist Keith Robinson with a turkey mount at Pattison Park near Owensville
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For additional information about this or other county news, contact Clermont County Communications Director Kathy Lehr at (513) 732-7597 or by e-mail, klehr@ clermontcountyohio.gov.