The Richland Turkey Boom
A progressive local farmer strikes a lucrative deal with the finest hotel in Spokane, signaling prosperity for the region's poultry industry.
The story, cleaned up
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O. H. Luelioff, one of the most progressive farmers in the Richland district, is justly proud of the showing he has made on turkeys this year. In all, Mr. Luelioff raised about 160 birds to maturity, his entire bunch going to the Davenport Hotel, the finest hotel in Spokane and probably in the Northwest. He made a big shipment at Thanksgiving time and received a letter from the manager stating that they were the finest lot of birds he ever had the pleasure of handling and requesting all he could secure for his Christmas dinner. As a result, Mr. Luelioff, just prior to the holidays, shipped close to 620 pounds to the Davenport, for which he received 22 cents per pound, dressed. All the feed on which the birds were raised was grown on the Luelioff ranch and the margin of profit was exceptionally high. Next year Mr. Luelioff expects to raise at least 300 turkeys and hopes to reach the 400 mark. There is no doubt about this being a fine country for turkey raising, as the warm, dry springs are ideal for this class of birds, while the fact that the best quality of corn can be grown here makes the feed bill a minor consideration.
“There is no doubt about this being a fine country for turkey raising, the warm, dry springs being ideal for this class of birds.”
In 1915, Richland’s agricultural potential was being actively promoted to outsiders, a trend that persists today as the region balances its historic farming roots with modern rapid development. Luelioff’s success story highlights the early era of regional agricultural branding that put the Tri-Cities on the map for high-quality production.
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