Turkeys outnumber Hoosiers 3 to 1
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana boasts more turkeys than state residents.
In fact, for every 1 Hoosier among the population of more than 6.8 million, there are 3 turkeys.
Indiana is the fourth-largest producer of turkeys in the United States. Poultry and agriculture leaders tell I-Team 8 there’s still room for growth.
In 2024, a little more than 20 million turkeys were produced in Indiana. In 14 counties, there are more turkeys than people. In some counties, turkeys outnumber people 10-1.
Rebecca Joniskan, president of the Purdue University-based Indiana State Poultry Association , “We are No. 4 when you count heads, but we’re actually No. 3 when you count poundage.”
State leaders predict continued growth for the turkey industry in Indiana, but it won’t be unlimited growth because of the fluctuating costs of maintaining large flocks of gobblers.
Don Lamb, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture , said, “The costs that are out of the control of a producer is really one of the limiting factors.”