Farmamerica Turkey Trot draws 130 trotters

The temperature was 16 degrees and there was a medium breeze from the west, but some of the runners at Farmamerica’s third annual “Turkey Trot” were sweating as they worked their way around the 5k course that takes participants past–and in one case, even through–the organization’s historic locations.

 

About 130 participants signed up for the family friendly walk or run which began at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 28. The first two finishers, Devin Sickler of Kasota and 13-year-old Keenan Collins of Waseca, completed the course in 22 minutes. They were followed two minutes later by Bryan Boyce of Waseca. Others, including families with strollers and young children, took their time and decided after each lap whether they would continue; the course took participants around the Farmamerica loop 3.5 times; some took about an hour to finish at their more leisurely pace.

 

Program director Kari Wadd and communications director Morgan Mudgett cheered participants on as they finished each loop. Wadd mentioned that this is the first time there has been snow on the grounds during the Trot, and stated she preferred the brisk cold to last year’s weather, which had included such strong winds that some walkers who had worn detailed turkey costumes had trouble moving both when encountering a headwind and a tailwind.

 

The registration fee–participants had preregistered–included numerous amenities. Among them were warm drinks, fruit and doughnuts, and individualized packets with a turkey-shaped medal and a Turkey Trot T-shirt. 

 

The 2024 presidentially pardoned turkeys, Peach and Blossom, supervised the dining area of the visitor center, gobbling repeatedly, apparently undisturbed by the commotion.