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Bucks' 'Biggest Gobbler' weighs in at 60-plus pounds
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One of the 35 turkeys entered into this year's contest is weighed in a giant, cast iron cooking pot.
So who is the Biggest Gobbler in Bucks County? If you guessed Tom or Jim, you'd be right.
Jim, the plumpest Tom Turkey of the year, officially weighed in at 60 1/2 pounds at the Davis Feed Mill's annual Big Gobbler Contest in Rushland.
The traditional pre-Thanksgiving weigh-in goes back nine years when the owners stepped forward and offered their facility for a turkey contest and 4-H show.
The premise is simple. Contestants pick out turkeys in the spring and then feed them until the day of the event. Each gobbler is then officially weighed in a giant wrought iron cooking pot set up for everyone to see.
Thirty-five turkeys tipped the scales this year -- whether they wanted to or not -- as onlookers took photographs and gobbled down turkey hot dogs and breast-fried turkey.
"There were a lot of big turkeys this year," observed Mary Clark, the feed mill's store manager. "These kids do such a wonderful job with these birds. And the people who come out -- it's amazing to see."
This year's winning Tom, or Jim if you prefer, is owned by Andrew Coleman of Chalfont. His turkey gobbled up an incredible two pounds of feed a day on his way to the winner's circle.
On the hen side, Marco Tucker captured first place with his rotund turkey. Tucker's fowl weighed 36 1/2 pounds.
Andrew Coleman's brother, Ryan, tied for first in the Hen category with "Peanut." And his older brother, Shawn's turkey, "Bob," weighed in as second fattest at 58 pounds. Unfortunately, due to the rules of the contest, there's only one winner per family so Jim reigned supreme, at least on this turkey day.
So what's the Coleman secret? Certainly not Weight Watchers. Continued...
Jim, the plumpest Tom Turkey of the year, officially weighed in at 60 1/2 pounds at the Davis Feed Mill's annual Big Gobbler Contest in Rushland.
The traditional pre-Thanksgiving weigh-in goes back nine years when the owners stepped forward and offered their facility for a turkey contest and 4-H show.
The premise is simple. Contestants pick out turkeys in the spring and then feed them until the day of the event. Each gobbler is then officially weighed in a giant wrought iron cooking pot set up for everyone to see.
Thirty-five turkeys tipped the scales this year -- whether they wanted to or not -- as onlookers took photographs and gobbled down turkey hot dogs and breast-fried turkey.
"There were a lot of big turkeys this year," observed Mary Clark, the feed mill's store manager. "These kids do such a wonderful job with these birds. And the people who come out -- it's amazing to see."
This year's winning Tom, or Jim if you prefer, is owned by Andrew Coleman of Chalfont. His turkey gobbled up an incredible two pounds of feed a day on his way to the winner's circle.
On the hen side, Marco Tucker captured first place with his rotund turkey. Tucker's fowl weighed 36 1/2 pounds.
Andrew Coleman's brother, Ryan, tied for first in the Hen category with "Peanut." And his older brother, Shawn's turkey, "Bob," weighed in as second fattest at 58 pounds. Unfortunately, due to the rules of the contest, there's only one winner per family so Jim reigned supreme, at least on this turkey day.
So what's the Coleman secret? Certainly not Weight Watchers. Continued...
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"It was lots and lots of feed from the Davis Feed Mill," says Andrew, who attends school at Unami Middle School in the Central Bucks School District. "We had to feed him a lot to get him up to 60 pounds." The boys also gave their turkeys plenty of room to trot and lots of water.
"I'm pretty excited," said Andrew, who also won Grand Champion in the 4-H show held earlier in the day.
In the process of raising the birds, they learned what goes into running a successful business, said parents, Mike and Coleen Coleman. "They bought the birds. They fed them. They paid for any other expenses along the way. They then sell them and keep any profit, if there is any," said Mike. "And each of the boys sold their turkeys this year."
Bob Brown, the director of 4-H in Bucks County, congratulated the participants and particularly thanked Allan Davis for opening the feed mill years ago for the turkey show. "He's a great person in our community and is always doing things for our 4-H community. He deserves a lot of credit for helping the young people in the community," said Brown.
"The live stock projects are huge in building life skills," adds Brown. "A lot of the kids I work with in this county aren't going into agriculture, but what 4-H teaches them is responsibility and work ethic. It builds character and teaches them about budgeting and money."
Allan Davis, who has owned the mill for years, enjoyed the community presence and the bustling activity at the mill. "We did it the first year on a whim and it developed over the years," he said. "I'm just happy the customers and the community enjoy this. It's been a lot of fun."
Davis said his favorite part of the day is when the children lead their birds to the weigh-in station. "Just perfect," he says with a broad smile. "I've seen some of these children grow up."
His parents, Harry and Clara Davis, opened the Rushland store in 1943 after starting the operation at his grandfather's farm in 1939.
"I'm pretty excited," said Andrew, who also won Grand Champion in the 4-H show held earlier in the day.
In the process of raising the birds, they learned what goes into running a successful business, said parents, Mike and Coleen Coleman. "They bought the birds. They fed them. They paid for any other expenses along the way. They then sell them and keep any profit, if there is any," said Mike. "And each of the boys sold their turkeys this year."
Bob Brown, the director of 4-H in Bucks County, congratulated the participants and particularly thanked Allan Davis for opening the feed mill years ago for the turkey show. "He's a great person in our community and is always doing things for our 4-H community. He deserves a lot of credit for helping the young people in the community," said Brown.
"The live stock projects are huge in building life skills," adds Brown. "A lot of the kids I work with in this county aren't going into agriculture, but what 4-H teaches them is responsibility and work ethic. It builds character and teaches them about budgeting and money."
Allan Davis, who has owned the mill for years, enjoyed the community presence and the bustling activity at the mill. "We did it the first year on a whim and it developed over the years," he said. "I'm just happy the customers and the community enjoy this. It's been a lot of fun."
Davis said his favorite part of the day is when the children lead their birds to the weigh-in station. "Just perfect," he says with a broad smile. "I've seen some of these children grow up."
His parents, Harry and Clara Davis, opened the Rushland store in 1943 after starting the operation at his grandfather's farm in 1939.
So who is the Biggest Gobbler in Bucks County? If you guessed Tom or Jim, you'd be right.
Jim, the plumpest Tom Turkey of the year, officially weighed in at 60 1/2 pounds at the Davis Feed Mill's annual Big Gobbler Contest in Rushland.
The traditional pre-Thanksgiving weigh-in goes back nine years when the owners stepped forward and offered their facility for a turkey contest and 4-H show.
The premise is simple. Contestants pick out turkeys in the spring and then feed them until the day of the event. Each gobbler is then officially weighed in a giant wrought iron cooking pot set up for everyone to see.
Thirty-five turkeys tipped the scales this year -- whether they wanted to or not -- as onlookers took photographs and gobbled down turkey hot dogs and breast-fried turkey.
"There were a lot of big turkeys this year," observed Mary Clark, the feed mill's store manager. "These kids do such a wonderful job with these birds. And the people who come out -- it's amazing to see."
This year's winning Tom, or Jim if you prefer, is owned by Andrew Coleman of Chalfont. His turkey gobbled up an incredible two pounds of feed a day on his way to the winner's circle.
On the hen side, Marco Tucker captured first place with his rotund turkey. Tucker's fowl weighed 36 1/2 pounds.
Andrew Coleman's brother, Ryan, tied for first in the Hen category with "Peanut." And his older brother, Shawn's turkey, "Bob," weighed in as second fattest at 58 pounds. Unfortunately, due to the rules of the contest, there's only one winner per family so Jim reigned supreme, at least on this turkey day.
So what's the Coleman secret? Certainly not Weight Watchers.
"It was lots and lots of feed from the Davis Feed Mill," says Andrew, who attends school at Unami Middle School in the Central Bucks School District. "We had to feed him a lot to get him up to 60 pounds." The boys also gave their turkeys plenty of room to trot and lots of water.
"I'm pretty excited," said Andrew, who also won Grand Champion in the 4-H show held earlier in the day.
In the process of raising the birds, they learned what goes into running a successful business, said parents, Mike and Coleen Coleman. "They bought the birds. They fed them. They paid for any other expenses along the way. They then sell them and keep any profit, if there is any," said Mike. "And each of the boys sold their turkeys this year."
Bob Brown, the director of 4-H in Bucks County, congratulated the participants and particularly thanked Allan Davis for opening the feed mill years ago for the turkey show. "He's a great person in our community and is always doing things for our 4-H community. He deserves a lot of credit for helping the young people in the community," said Brown.
"The live stock projects are huge in building life skills," adds Brown. "A lot of the kids I work with in this county aren't going into agriculture, but what 4-H teaches them is responsibility and work ethic. It builds character and teaches them about budgeting and money."
Allan Davis, who has owned the mill for years, enjoyed the community presence and the bustling activity at the mill. "We did it the first year on a whim and it developed over the years," he said. "I'm just happy the customers and the community enjoy this. It's been a lot of fun."
Davis said his favorite part of the day is when the children lead their birds to the weigh-in station. "Just perfect," he says with a broad smile. "I've seen some of these children grow up."
His parents, Harry and Clara Davis, opened the Rushland store in 1943 after starting the operation at his grandfather's farm in 1939.
Jim, the plumpest Tom Turkey of the year, officially weighed in at 60 1/2 pounds at the Davis Feed Mill's annual Big Gobbler Contest in Rushland.
The traditional pre-Thanksgiving weigh-in goes back nine years when the owners stepped forward and offered their facility for a turkey contest and 4-H show.
The premise is simple. Contestants pick out turkeys in the spring and then feed them until the day of the event. Each gobbler is then officially weighed in a giant wrought iron cooking pot set up for everyone to see.
Thirty-five turkeys tipped the scales this year -- whether they wanted to or not -- as onlookers took photographs and gobbled down turkey hot dogs and breast-fried turkey.
"There were a lot of big turkeys this year," observed Mary Clark, the feed mill's store manager. "These kids do such a wonderful job with these birds. And the people who come out -- it's amazing to see."
This year's winning Tom, or Jim if you prefer, is owned by Andrew Coleman of Chalfont. His turkey gobbled up an incredible two pounds of feed a day on his way to the winner's circle.
On the hen side, Marco Tucker captured first place with his rotund turkey. Tucker's fowl weighed 36 1/2 pounds.
Andrew Coleman's brother, Ryan, tied for first in the Hen category with "Peanut." And his older brother, Shawn's turkey, "Bob," weighed in as second fattest at 58 pounds. Unfortunately, due to the rules of the contest, there's only one winner per family so Jim reigned supreme, at least on this turkey day.
So what's the Coleman secret? Certainly not Weight Watchers.
"It was lots and lots of feed from the Davis Feed Mill," says Andrew, who attends school at Unami Middle School in the Central Bucks School District. "We had to feed him a lot to get him up to 60 pounds." The boys also gave their turkeys plenty of room to trot and lots of water.
"I'm pretty excited," said Andrew, who also won Grand Champion in the 4-H show held earlier in the day.
In the process of raising the birds, they learned what goes into running a successful business, said parents, Mike and Coleen Coleman. "They bought the birds. They fed them. They paid for any other expenses along the way. They then sell them and keep any profit, if there is any," said Mike. "And each of the boys sold their turkeys this year."
Bob Brown, the director of 4-H in Bucks County, congratulated the participants and particularly thanked Allan Davis for opening the feed mill years ago for the turkey show. "He's a great person in our community and is always doing things for our 4-H community. He deserves a lot of credit for helping the young people in the community," said Brown.
"The live stock projects are huge in building life skills," adds Brown. "A lot of the kids I work with in this county aren't going into agriculture, but what 4-H teaches them is responsibility and work ethic. It builds character and teaches them about budgeting and money."
Allan Davis, who has owned the mill for years, enjoyed the community presence and the bustling activity at the mill. "We did it the first year on a whim and it developed over the years," he said. "I'm just happy the customers and the community enjoy this. It's been a lot of fun."
Davis said his favorite part of the day is when the children lead their birds to the weigh-in station. "Just perfect," he says with a broad smile. "I've seen some of these children grow up."
His parents, Harry and Clara Davis, opened the Rushland store in 1943 after starting the operation at his grandfather's farm in 1939.
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