Skip to content

Champion turkeys auctioned off in festive sale

Alex Jamesin Shrewsbury
News imageALEX JAMES/BBC Two men stood side by side. On the left is one of the judges, wearing a beige knitted jumper and a light brown suede gilet. On the left is farmer Sam Edwards, who is wearing a navy blue Fair Isle knitted jumper and a traditional white coat. Both men are holding certificates that read 'Champion Goose', and Sam is holding an enormous plucked turkey. They're stood indoors in the livestock market. ALEX JAMES/BBC
Sam Edwards, on the right, took away two prizes on behalf of Norbury Turkeys

A goose and a turkey, weighing in at 30lbs (13.6kg) each, have been auctioned off an annual poultry fair.

Shrewsbury Livestock Market hosts the festive event run by Halls auctions, selling about 350 birds, with the largest turkeys and geese awarded a champion moniker.

This year's champion goose and a turkey were from Freehold Farm in Bishop's Castle, Shropshire.

Farmer Sam Edwards said it was good to be recognised for the work and said he had had hope and prayed over the past year, with issues such as bird flu outbreaks in the county causing disruption to the farmers.

Mr Edwards, whose farm was part of Norbury Turkeys, added his farm handled all the processing of their poultry, "from farm to fork."

"This is the final push until Christmas Day," he said.

"We'll get these out the door and then relax."

The farmer added that the auction day was "brilliant", with "farmers coming together" in order to "sell to customers directly."

"I think the customers quite enjoy knowing exactly where their food is from."

News imageALEX JAMES/BBC Jonny pictured looking into the camera and smiling. He's wearing a dark green knitted jumper with reindeer on it, and a light blue collared shirt and a navy tie. He's stood indoors inside the livestock market, a large warehouse or barn-type structure with corrugated walls and ceiling. ALEX JAMES/BBC
Jonny Dymond is the auction manager at the market, and said he would be selling as many as 350 birds

Auctioneer Jonny Dymond said a lot of effort was put into running the market throughout the year, so the more casual festive poultry auction was a good way to Famers were a resilient bunch, he said, and would always have a bit of festive spirit, whatever the year threw at them.

"You've just got to knuckle down, put a smile on your face, and go forward," he added.

News imageALEX JAMES/BBC Robin pictured looking into the camera and smiling slightly. He's wearing a camouflage green hoodie and a black puffer jacket. He's stood in the midst of a crowd of people inside the cattle market - which is a large warehouse or barn-type structure. ALEX JAMES/BBC
Robin Benson needed to buy a turkey big enough for 18 people

Whitchurch resident Robin Benson had travelled down to Shrewsbury for the auction.

"Every year I go to a livestock market to buy a turkey," he said, and added he had been coming to Shrewsbury for the last five or six years.

His family will host a Ukrainian family this Christmas so there will be 18 mouths to feed.

"They're selling 14, 15, 16 pound [lbs] turkeys," he said - adding that he was hoping for the 26 or even 30-pounder.

Mr Benson said he chooses to buy from the market to "support the producers", and because the turkeys were "beautiful quality."

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

More on this story