Turkey Trot Rare Breeds
Willowtrail Farm

Turkey Trot Rare Breeds began in 1999 when Jenifer Morrissey purchased a flock of rare breed ducks for her farm at Turkey Trot Springs in Colorado.  Fell ponies joined the farm in 2000 and have been the focus of Turkey Trot Rare Breeds ever since.  Now located in Gould, Colorado, Turkey Trot Rare Breeds is operated alongside Owl Mountain Pony Works which uses draft pony power in forestry and logging.

Mission

Turkey Trot Rare Breeds is dedicated to stewarding rare breeds and putting them to use. It is my belief that by demonstrating the utility of these livestock breeds, I can help ensure their survival into the future.

 

Why Turkey Trot?

Turkey Trot Rare Breeds obviously gets its name from the place where it started: Turkey Trot Springs.  A more humorous source of the name came one day at Turkey Trot Springs.  During daylight hours, I let my flock of Bourbon Red turkeys range free.  One day when I was in the barnyard, I realized I couldn't hear or see the flock.  I was of course immediately concerned and I began searching for them.  As I commenced my search, I remembered that I had seen a wild turkey hovering about the barnyard the last few days.  Sure enough, within a half hour I found the wild tom trying to trot off into the woods with my turkey flock!

 

Why Rare Breeds?

“…when the last individual of a race of living things breathes no more, another Heaven and another Earth must pass before such a one can be again.”            -- William Beebee

I first learned of rare livestock breeds in 1997 when I raised a flock of ducks for Guidestone Farm. A t first I thought rare breeds were exotic livestock varieties (emus, guinea fowl, etc.), but I learned that they are common varieties - cows, chickens, pigs - that are no longer in the mainstream of agriculture.  Usually this unpopularity is because the breeds don't do well in factory settings, or in the case of draft animals, they've been replaced by the internal combustion engine.  They thrive, though, in grass-based natural systems and on small farms.  I'm interested in natural systems and small farming, so rare breeds were an immediate attraction.  It's a joy to be surrounded by so many beautiful animals.  For more information about rare breeds, I highly recommend the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy on the Links page.  For more information about Fell Ponies, see the About Fell Ponies page

Thank you

I am thankful everyday for the Fell ponies and friends who share my home.  And I am thankful for your interest in rare breeds such as Fell ponies.  It is through interest such as yours that we will be able to move these wonderful breeds from their rare status to healthy populations in this country and world wide.

 

This page last updated: 04 March 2007
© 2007, Willowtrail Farm, Turkeytrot Rare Breeds, Owl Mountain Pony Works and Naked Essence Web Design

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