It’s one thing to chastise us for killing and eating Turkey as the holiday season is approaching, but a California farm is going quite a bit further, and it’s just downright strange.
The Gentle Barn in Santa Clarita, California is a nonprofit farm hosting an interesting celebration on Thanksgiving Day.
While the rest of us are basting and baking our Turkey until it is a glistening, golden brown, The Gentle Barn would like to invite you to a special day of cuddling turkeys.
Turkey cuddling is exactly what it sounds like it is, and that’s not what most people think to do with the bird. The Gently Barn is committed to rescuing turkeys that would be slaughtered and bringing them to the farm for some wholesome family-friendly cuddling.
The farm describes turkeys as intelligent and compassionate sentient beings. They have had these turkey cuddles in the past, and it usually included sharing a dinner together, but this year it’s just cuddles and then a slice of vegan pie.
The Gentle Barn is not just in California, they are in Nashville, Tennessee as well as St. Louis, Missouri. All three locations are offering Thanksgiving cuddles for all. Something tells me there might be more people in California interested than in Nashville.
Once you pay the minimum donation price, you get 90 minutes to hug, chat with and feed the turkey. Once the turkeys are cuddled and fed, they just get to continue living what the farmer hopes is a long and happy life. There’s no roasting pan in their future.
The turkeys aren’t alone on the farm, there are 200 other animals there to hug as well. There is even cow hug therapy.
One of the leaders in the Gentle Barn closes a video for the hugging event by saying, “We can change our traditions and we can make them kinder and more gentle. So this year we are inviting you to come to a Gentle Barn location near you and celebrate turkeys.”
Are you in?
Watch:
The Gentle Barn’s celebration of turkeys takes place on Thanksgiving at all 3 locations! Join us for vegan pie, fall drinks & a party for the turkeys ✨???? Get to know their unique personalities, enjoy quality time with the animals & start a new tradition: https://t.co/bob2KXHb1L pic.twitter.com/xiZ0xIK1mp
— The Gentle Barn (@TheGentleBarn) October 10, 2022
