Bates Turkey Farm

Bates Turkey Farm is a domestic turkey producer based near Fort Deposit in Lowndes County, Alabama. The operation traces its beginnings to 1923, when a wedding gift of nine turkey eggs developed into a commercial farming enterprise. The farm occupies approximately 900 acres, with free-range turkeys raised beneath pecan trees on roughly 30 acres of the property. A reference account reported a flock of about 60,000 birds in 2008. The farm purchases young poults from a hatchery in Oakwood, Ohio, and raises them on a feed mix based on freshly ground corn, oats, and soybean meal, supplemented with vitamins. A turkey requires approximately 70 pounds of grain to reach slaughter size. This production model exposes the business to substantial feed-cost volatility. In 2011, rising corn prices led Bates to double its turkey prices, illustrating the close relationship between agricultural input costs and consumer pricing. Bates Turkey Farm serves customers beyond Alabama, including buyers in distant states such as California, Oregon, and Alaska. Its ability to supply a geographically broad customer base is notable in the context of Alabama's declining turkey-farming sector. The reference material states that production costs are generally lower in the Midwest, where grain is grown, and that many Alabama turkey growers consequently left the business. Bates was described as the state's sole remaining turkey farm after Alabama's turkey-growing industry had once included approximately 150 growers. The farm also has a distinctive public role in Alabama political and holiday culture. Since 1949, it has supplied Clyde, a succession of turkeys ceremonially pardoned by the governor of Alabama at Thanksgiving. The first Clyde was pardoned by Governor James E. Folsom, known as Big Jim Folsom. Bates has also supplied a frozen turkey for the governor's Thanksgiving meal. This recurring relationship gives the farm visibility beyond ordinary agricultural production and connects its name with an established state tradition. The Bates business expanded into prepared-food service in 1969, when Willie Claude "Bill" Bates Jr. opened the first Bates House of Turkey restaurant in Greenville, Alabama. Two additional restaurants subsequently followed. The restaurants serve turkey-centered menus and use turkey-themed decor, extending the farm's identity from primary production into foodservice and hospitality. Taken together, the farm, customer distribution operation, and restaurants form a regional turkey-focused business whose differentiation rests on agricultural continuity, free-range production, direct customer reach, and its association with Alabama's Thanksgiving ceremony.

Bates Turkey Farm began in 1923 from a small and unusual foundation: a wedding gift of nine turkey eggs. The eggs became the starting point for a turkey-growing operation that eventually developed into one of Alabama's best-known turkey businesses. The farm is located near Fort Deposit in Lowndes County, approximately 30 miles south of Montgomery, and occupies about 900 acres. The farm's production system centers on free-range birds. Turkeys are raised beneath pecan trees on approximately 30 acres of the property, while the broader acreage supports the farm operation. Bates purchases poults from a hatchery in Oakwood, Ohio, then raises them on freshly ground corn, oats, and soybean meal with added vitamins. The reference material indicates that each bird consumes about 70 pounds of grain before reaching slaughter size. In 2008, the flock was reported at approximately 60,000 turkeys. Bates developed a customer base extending well beyond its immediate Alabama location. Customers were reported in distant states including California, Oregon, and Alaska. This distribution reach became increasingly significant as Alabama's turkey-farming industry contracted. The economics of feed production favored Midwestern farms located closer to grain supplies, and many Alabama producers left the industry. Bates was described as the only remaining turkey farm in Alabama after the state had once supported approximately 150 turkey growers. Feed prices have been a recurring business issue. Turkey prices depend heavily on the cost of grain, and the farm reportedly doubled its prices in 2011 after corn became more expensive. This event reflects the operating pressures of a livestock business in which feed represents a major component of production cost. The farm has also held a recurring ceremonial role in Alabama public life. Since 1949, it has supplied Clyde, the turkey pardoned by the state's governor at Thanksgiving. The first such Clyde was pardoned by Governor James E. Folsom, popularly known as Big Jim Folsom. Bates has additionally supplied a frozen turkey for the governor's Thanksgiving meal. The tradition has linked the farm to Alabama's political and holiday calendar for decades. In 1969, Willie Claude "Bill" Bates Jr. broadened the enterprise into restaurant operations by opening the first Bates House of Turkey in Greenville. Two further locations followed. The restaurants use turkey-themed decor and offer an all-turkey menu, turning the farm's core agricultural product into a prepared-food and hospitality concept. The resulting business combines primary poultry production, direct sales, broad customer fulfillment, and branded restaurants while retaining a strongly regional Alabama identity.

• 2011

  Feed-cost inflation drives a major price increase

  [1]Bates Turkey Farmen.wikipedia.org

  After corn prices rose, Bates reportedly doubled its turkey prices to reflect higher production costs.

• 2008

  Reported flock reaches approximately 60,000 turkeys

  [1]Bates Turkey Farmen.wikipedia.org

  A reference account reports that the farm was raising approximately 60,000 free-range turkeys.

• 1969

  First Bates House of Turkey restaurant opens

  [1]Bates Turkey Farmen.wikipedia.org

  Willie Claude "Bill" Bates Jr. opens the first Bates House of Turkey in Greenville, Alabama. Two additional restaurants later follow.

• 1949

  Bates becomes associated with Alabama's Thanksgiving turkey pardon

  [1]Bates Turkey Farmen.wikipedia.org

  Bates begins supplying Clyde, the turkey ceremonially pardoned by Alabama's governor at Thanksgiving. The first Clyde is associated with Governor James E. Folsom.

• 1923

  Operation begins from nine turkey eggs

  [1]Bates Turkey Farmen.wikipedia.org

  A wedding gift of nine turkey eggs provides the starting point for the Bates turkey-growing operation.

A longstanding Alabama turkey producer combining farm-raised poultry, direct regional and out-of-state customer service, and turkey-focused restaurants. The brand is also positioned through its historical association with Alabama's Thanksgiving turkey-pardoning ceremony.

• Poultry

  Free-range turkeys

  Bates raises turkeys in a free-range setting beneath pecan trees on part of its Alabama acreage. The birds are purchased as poults and fed a grain-based ration consisting of corn, oats, soybean meal, and vitamins until they reach slaughter size.

• Turkey products

  Fresh and frozen turkey

  The farm supplies turkey to customers over a broad geographic area, including distant U.S. states. The reference material also identifies Bates as the supplier of a frozen turkey used for the Alabama governor's Thanksgiving meal.

• Restaurant foodservice · 1969

  Bates House of Turkey restaurant meals

  The Bates House of Turkey restaurants extend the farm's turkey specialization into prepared food. The restaurants are described as serving an all-turkey menu in turkey-themed surroundings, with the first location opening in Greenville in 1969 and two more later following.

• 2011

  Turkey prices doubled after corn costs increasedPrice change

  Background

  The farm's pricing is strongly affected by feed costs because turkeys require substantial quantities of grain to reach slaughter size. Corn prices rose in 2011.

  Action taken

  Bates reportedly doubled its turkey prices to compensate for higher corn and production costs.

  Aftermath

  The episode demonstrated the sensitivity of the business to agricultural commodity prices and the difficulty of maintaining stable consumer pricing in livestock production.

  Source

• 2011

  Bates Turkey Farm doubled prices in response to higher corn costs[1]Bates Turkey Farmen.wikipedia.org

  Pricing

  Higher corn prices increased the cost of raising turkeys, prompting Bates Turkey Farm to double its prices. The episode illustrates the farm's exposure to feed-market fluctuations.

• Bates Turkey Farm continued supplying Alabama's Thanksgiving turkey tradition[1]Bates Turkey Farmen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Bates Turkey Farm is identified as the supplier of Clyde, the turkey ceremonially pardoned by Alabama's governor at Thanksgiving, as well as a frozen turkey used for the governor's Thanksgiving meal.

1. 1Bates Turkey Farmen.wikipedia.org