LEXINGTON, Ky. — If you're carving up a turkey for Thanksgiving this year, you may need to put your order in sooner rather than later.


What You Need To Know

  • Some places are having difficulties finding turkeys for Thanksgiving

  • Georgetown Farm said the demand for turkeys this year has increased

  • Elmwood Stock farm and Critchfield Meats Family Market are now taking pre-orders for turkeys up until a few days before Thanksgiving

  • Critchfield Meats Family Market specifically are looking for turkeys under 15 pounds 

It may only be Halloween weekend, but at Critchfield Meats Family Market, assistant meat manager Patrick Wingate said it’s time to order the main course of your Thanksgiving meals. 

“For the most part we're having a little bit of difficulties getting some things,” Wingate said – one of those items being turkeys. 

“It'll be interesting to see this year because we're hoping to get everything that we need but we still aren't 100% sure what we are getting,” Wingate said.

The store is having difficulties finding smaller turkeys under 15 pounds. According to a farmer Mac Stone of Elmwood Stock Farm in Georgetown, Wingate is not the only place looking. 

“We are seeing an uptick in demand. I think people are hearing about supply chains and lack of Turkeys maybe in the marketplace,” Stone said.

They've increased their amount of turkeys each year, but Stone said unfortunately the determining factor is based on how many birds they hatch for the season. 

“Certain sizes tend to sell out faster. So I would recommend that you order as soon as you know how big of a bird you want," Stone said. "You figure one pound of Turkey per person is especially if you want to see leftovers. And I would suggest ordering now."

Ordering directly from a farm, or ordering from the store, Wingate said after six year in the industry, this holiday season will be difficult. 

“Put your orders and as fast as you can and please bear with us this year, because we're not sure exactly what we're looking at but we're trying to get everything that we can for everybody,” Wingate said.

Wingate and Stone hope to fulfill all of their orders for the year, and provide their customers with Kentucky Proud turkeys. 

Both Elmwood Stock Farm and Critchfield Meats Family Market are now taking pre-orders for turkeys up until a few days before Thanksgiving.