Nearly every year since 1946 the citizens of Yellville, AR, have held the Turkey Trot Festival. One particular part of this festival catches the ire anyone with a humane bone in his or her body:  the Turkey Drop. This tradition began as live turkeys being thrown from the roof of the local town courthouse to feed families in need--that is, families in need lucky enough to catch a terrified bird being flung from the top of a building into a crowd.

The Turkey Drop has evolved from feeding needy families to a barbaric sport of catching live turkeys that have been dropped from a plane flying 500 feet in the air. This year six turkeys were taken into the plane to be dropped. Five survived the ghastly fall the ground, where they were caught by zealous spectators. The sixth was killed on impact.

We are appalled at the many of the festivals and traditions involving animals we find in other countries. But this time we have the chance to stop one in our backyard. Tell the Yellville Chamber of Commerce once and for all that this barbaric and inhumane tradition must stop. Please sign now and share with your friends.

If you wish, you may also contact the Yellville Chamber of Commerce directly at (870) 449-4018

Sources: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/oct/05/at-festival-airplane-to-drop-live-turke/#/
http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2016/10/05/terrified-turkeys-to-fall-from-sky-again
http://onlyinark.com/events/turkey-trot-festival-in-yellville/
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/oct/08/6-turkeys-tossed-on-first-day-5-survive/
http://www.thv11.com/news/local/peta-urges-people-to-oppose-yellvilles-upcoming-turkey-drop/329737972
http://www.yellville.com/TURKEY-TROT.html

Photo:  PHOTO BY SPECIAL TO THE DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE/THE BAXTER BULLETIN / KAITLYN SCHWERS