Second Turkey Giveaway Takes Over

Mary Burich | November 26, 2025

Supporting our communities by investing in well-being through access to nutritious foods for the holidays

Hormel Foods put the giving in Thanksgiving, bringing smiles, warmth and thousands of JENNIE-O^® turkey breasts to Minnesota families through its second annual Hometown Turkey Takeover. This year, the event didn’t just return — it expanded beyond the company’s hometown of Austin, Minnesota, to the town of Willmar, the headquarters of the JENNIE-O^® brand. Across both locations, Hormel Foods and its partners distributed 15,000 JENNIE-O^® turkey breasts, ensuring holiday tables across the state would be filled with good food and gratitude.

Hormel Foods team members, plus hundreds of volunteers and community partners, worked tirelessly to make the event a success. In Austin and Willmar combined, 12,000 JENNIE-O^® turkey breasts were distributed directly to families, while an additional 3,000 were donated to food banks throughout greater Mower County—a powerful statement of the commitment of Hormel Foods to fighting food insecurity.

Brianna Holcomb, communications manager for Hormel Foods, was co-chair of the 2025 edition of Hometown Turkey Takeover.

“Months of passionate planning went into ensuring this event was a success and that it would boost food security where Hormel Foods team members live and work,” she said.

Among a myriad of details, production consisted of carefully planned and executed internal and external communication, aligning security to ensure volunteers and recipients were safe, building out logistics that got the right products to the right places at the right time, and making sure the army of warm-hearted volunteers had what they needed to stay motivated and excited while bringing joy to the residents of their hometowns.

Austin & Willmar, MN

Communities

13K

Turkey Breasts

Donated during event

Community partner Hy-Vee added to the holiday cheer by donating canned goods to complement the turkeys. And the JENNIE-O^® brand team stepped up in style, providing oven mitts and thermometers so every turkey could be cooked to golden perfection — without any burnt fingers!

Mower County Fairgrounds was buzzing on the day of the event. Hormel Foods team members worked with fairgrounds staff, local police, city planners and even the Austin High School basketball team showed up to create a seamless, spirited event. Volunteers worked, and they celebrated, dancing between cars, waving signs and cheering as families rolled through the drive-up lanes. It was five hours of nonstop joy, with the last turkeys packed into cars by 2 p.m. CT.

Banyaan, an Austin High School senior and member of the school’s basketball team, helped for the first time this year.

“My teammates and I came out to volunteer because helping people is the right thing to do and doing it together makes the special bond we have shine on and off the court,” he said. “We were excited to put turkeys in cars and smiles on the faces of many familiar fans we see cheering us on during our games. Events like this are part of what brings people together and makes Austin one slam dunk of a town.”

The love spread for miles from the volunteer station, where Bob, a two-time Hometown Turkey Takeover worker, wanted his wife, Madonna, to see this year’s happening firsthand. “Growing up in Austin, Hormel Foods has always been there to help when the community is in need,” she said. “I’m proud to be part of that this year and for years to come.”

Weeks of local outreach to news stations, schools and small businesses helped spread the word. On the day of the event, the excitement was palpable. Cars lined up hours before the 9 a.m. start. First in line was Susette, an Austin local who arrived at 5:15 a.m. to secure her JENNIE-O^® turkey breasts. She plans to host Thanksgiving for 20 to 30 friends and family members, all of whom will be expecting America’s No. 1 main dish and Susette’s famous mashed potatoes made with “a lot of love.”

Growing up in Austin, Hormel Foods has always been there to help when the community is in need. I’m proud to be part of that this year and for years to come.
Madonna, a member of the Austin, MN community

Another early arrival, Ray, summed up the spirit of the day this way: “This is what makes the holidays special. Hormel Foods cares about this community, and it shows.” A returning participant added, “Austin is an amazing place and one of the biggest places of giving — Hormel Foods is pretty amazing.”

From the first turkey breast handed out to the last car pulling away, the Hometown Turkey Takeover was more than a distribution — it was a celebration of community, kindness and the belief that Good Feeds Us All. With its expansion to Willmar and the thousands of families served, Hormel Foods is again proving that when people come together, the season of giving truly lives up to its name.

Second Turkey Giveaway Takes Over

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