Poultry Science Club’s Turkey Sale: A Thanksgiving tradition connecting Buckeyes and building futures

COLUMBUS, Ohio — For 75 years, Ohio State’s Poultry Science Club has made Thanksgiving a little more meaningful for the Buckeye community — and for the next generation of poultry industry leaders — with its annual Turkey Sale.

Whether you’re picking up a turkey, volunteering with friends or just soaking up the holiday spirit, students in The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) say the Turkey Sale is a true highlight of autumn.

As club members prepare for the sale, the event’s impact stretches far beyond selling birds: It fuels hands-on learning, builds lifelong friendships and funds future career opportunities for students.

Elizabeth Lott, a senior animal sciences major in the CFAES Department of Animal Sciences and president of the Poultry Science Club, said the Turkey Sale is much more than a fundraiser.

“It’s truly a cornerstone event for many fellow Buckeyes,” Lott said. “It’s a tradition that allows faculty, parents and alumni to give back to the students while staying connected to the Department of Animal Sciences.”

“I love when someone recognizes my Poultry Science Club shirt or hoodie and says, ‘Oh my gosh, I used to get my turkey from you guys years ago!’”

That special connection across generations is a powerful reminder of the spirit and continuity the event creates.

During the sale, new club members quickly find their footing as what Lott fondly calls “honorary exec board members.” From handling turkey orders to interacting with customers, these students rapidly build vital communication, teamwork and leadership skills.

Beyond the professional benefits, the Turkey Sale cultivates lifelong friendships.

“Preparing for the event, working side by side and watching new members become part of our crew — those are some of the best memories we make as students,” Lott said.

CFAES supports a vibrant student life with more than 35 affiliated student organizations spanning diverse disciplines like animal sciences, food science, environmental science and agricultural economics.

Participation in these groups offers students countless opportunities for personal growth, leadership development and professional networking, enriching their academic experience and preparing them for future success.

In fact, CFAES student organizations cover everything from livestock and crops to food, sustainability and even beekeeping — giving students a chance to explore interests, test career goals and make campus feel like home.

But the experiences and opportunities don’t end on campus.

Proceeds from the Turkey Sale help send club members to the International Production & Processing Expo, or IPPE, the world’s largest poultry industry convention, held annually in Georgia. At IPPE, students network with industry professionals, attend seminars and learn about the latest in poultry science and technology. The event is a pivotal launching pad for careers.

“IPPE is truly eye-opening,” Lott said. “We get to meet leaders from around the country, see new innovations and picture ourselves working in the industry someday.”

The turkeys themselves come from Bowman & Landes, an Ohio-based, family-owned farm near Dayton known for raising free-range, antibiotic-free birds fed a vegetable diet — details that resonate with conscientious consumers. The club even offers preparation tips via QR codes during pickup, combining tradition with modern convenience.

The Turkey Sale has been a staple for three-quarters of a century, and Lott hopes it continues to thrive.

“It’s a fun, community-centered event that helps our club, our students and our department continue to grow and succeed,” she said.

Whether students are carving turkeys, making new friends or building toward a career, the Poultry Science Club’s Turkey Sale proves there’s much to savor at CFAES during every season.

As orders wrap up and preparations ramp up this week, the Poultry Science Club shows how a simple sale can build skills, foster connection and feed futures — a tradition worth celebrating this Thanksgiving season.