Photo Essay: Turkey farmer Jim Sorensen

Carbondale’s Jim Sorensen, owner of Shanaroba Farms, has been a farmer for the last 30 years and spent many summers on the family farm in Nebraska that was originally homesteaded by his grandparents. He has always had an organic garden and believes that what you eat should be picked out of the garden.

In 2001 he acquired a few turkeys to help with a severe grasshopper infestation taking over his garden. By word of mouth he began raising organic turkeys for Slow Foods International and found himself taking care of a flock of 300. He raised turkeys that were sent to various places such as Las Vegas and San Francisco for cooking schools and were even on the show Iron Chef.

Sorensen made the ultimate decision that he wanted to reduce the number of turkeys and currently only has around 60 at max. He owns 6 different varieties; the black Spanish, Narragansett, royal palm, bronze, the rare blue slate and chocolate.

To keep his turkeys organic he feeds them sunflower and other bulk seeds that have sprouted to ensure a higher percentage of nutrients. They are also free-range and feed on grasses, weeds and bugs around his farm.