This week on American Family Farmer, host Doug Stephan welcomes Dave and Barb Zerbe of Esbenshade Turkey Farm—America’s oldest operating turkey farm, proudly rooted in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Esbenshade Turkey Farm has been a Lancaster County original since 1858, spanning seven generations of tradition, craftsmanship, and family pride. Barb Zerbe represents the fifth generation of the Esbenshade lineage, and together she and her husband Dave continue the legacy built by the family’s beloved patriarch, Bob Esbenshade, who passed in 2020 at the age of 92. Bob’s passion for producing the “best-tasting turkey” and his commitment to customer care helped establish Esbenshade as a gold standard in poultry excellence, earning multiple Grand Champion awards at the Pennsylvania State Farm Show.

Today, the Zerbes carry on that mission by raising their cage-free turkeys from day-old poults and hand dressing each one on the farm using time-tested, proprietary methods. Their turkeys—known for their exceptional tenderness and flavor—are always free of antibiotics and growth hormones and fed an all-natural vegetarian diet of corn and soybean. Customers routinely praise them as “the best turkey they’ve ever tasted,” returning year after year and passing the tradition down through generations.

Esbenshade turkeys are available fresh during Thanksgiving and fresh or frozen year-round directly from the farm. Offerings include whole turkeys, turkey breasts, legs & thighs, wings, giblets, ground turkey, and their locally loved turkey pie.

Join us as Dave and Barb share the rich history of this remarkable family farm, their dedication to responsible agriculture, and how they are keeping a 167-year-old legacy thriving in the modern world. Learn more:

Esbenshade Turkey Farm – esbenshadeturkeyfarm.net

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