Imperial resident Robert Prince and his wife, Savannah, stand to watch the turkeys after the turkey stampede show at the California Mid-Winter Fair & Fiesta on Saturday. (Alejandro Davila) |
Imperial resident Isaac Sanchez has never seen a turkey stampede.
On Friday he was at the California Mid-Winter Fair & Fiesta and “got interested but I didn’t get to see it,” Isaac, 15, said.
The interest for this unusual stampede took Isaac back to the fair Saturday afternoon.
“It’s just something I want to see,” he said.
Isaac’s friend, Anneke Benedictus, 12, also from Imperial, said she “hadn’t even heard about a turkey stampede before.”
“But I own a turkey,” Anneke said.
Moments later, turkey trainer Nancy Gil Riegler came out to announce the beginning of the show to Issac, Anneke and some 50 other guests.
“Welcome to the stupidest show ever,” she said with a big smile and with the help of her husband “Cowboy Gil” explained what a turkey stampede is.
In short, a turkey stampede is something the Gil Rieglers invented about nine years ago and consists of having some seven turkeys run after a customized remote-control truck filled with feed.
And when that happens, Gil Riegler said, the turkey stampede looks like a “low-budget version of Jurassic Park.”
But aside from being funny, the show is educational in its own way.
For instance, fair guests can learn different turkey facts, such as that turkeys coming actually from South America and Mexico and not Turkey, and that they can grow as heavy as 57 pounds.
Gil Riegler also tells the audience that only the males (also called toms) gobble and that they are safe.
“The worst thing a male (turkey) can do is mate with your shoe,” she said.
“I don’t know how you get turkeys to run around like that,” said San Bernardino resident Richard Trujillo, 23, after the 20-minute show.
“It was pretty neat,” said Imperial resident Robert Prince, who was standing nearby. “I’m ready for a turkey sandwich,” he said.
“It was the most stupidest thing on Earth,” said Anneke while smiling. The show “was cool,” she said and added: “I wish I could get my turkey to do that.”
Staff Writer Alejandro Davila can be reached at 760-337-3445 or adavila@ivpressonline.com
On Friday he was at the California Mid-Winter Fair & Fiesta and “got interested but I didn’t get to see it,” Isaac, 15, said.
The interest for this unusual stampede took Isaac back to the fair Saturday afternoon.
“It’s just something I want to see,” he said.
Isaac’s friend, Anneke Benedictus, 12, also from Imperial, said she “hadn’t even heard about a turkey stampede before.”
“But I own a turkey,” Anneke said.
Moments later, turkey trainer Nancy Gil Riegler came out to announce the beginning of the show to Issac, Anneke and some 50 other guests.
“Welcome to the stupidest show ever,” she said with a big smile and with the help of her husband “Cowboy Gil” explained what a turkey stampede is.
In short, a turkey stampede is something the Gil Rieglers invented about nine years ago and consists of having some seven turkeys run after a customized remote-control truck filled with feed.
And when that happens, Gil Riegler said, the turkey stampede looks like a “low-budget version of Jurassic Park.”
But aside from being funny, the show is educational in its own way.
For instance, fair guests can learn different turkey facts, such as that turkeys coming actually from South America and Mexico and not Turkey, and that they can grow as heavy as 57 pounds.
Gil Riegler also tells the audience that only the males (also called toms) gobble and that they are safe.
“The worst thing a male (turkey) can do is mate with your shoe,” she said.
“I don’t know how you get turkeys to run around like that,” said San Bernardino resident Richard Trujillo, 23, after the 20-minute show.
“It was pretty neat,” said Imperial resident Robert Prince, who was standing nearby. “I’m ready for a turkey sandwich,” he said.
“It was the most stupidest thing on Earth,” said Anneke while smiling. The show “was cool,” she said and added: “I wish I could get my turkey to do that.”
Staff Writer Alejandro Davila can be reached at 760-337-3445 or adavila@ivpressonline.com
