Raising Meat Chickens, Getting Started. Murray Fest GIVEAWAY

[@nancyholich3199]

I too raised meat chickens first year we had 100 chicks. The second year 200 chicks, third year 300 chicks, fourth year 400 chicks. We have a large family. There was poultry processing where we could take our chickens to have them processed and frozen. They were cleaner and better than any Starbucks I have ever had. My husband was transferred so we had to move to Tennessee so those were the only four years that we raise meat chickens. I am now 75 and I am living on my parents farm with my son and daughter-in-law and there nine children my son farms and also has a town job. I miss raising chickens. I also had geese and I raised about 30 turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas and I sold a few of those and also gave some for gifts, so if anybody anybody that knows me knew that they were getting chickens for Christmas and maybe a turkey or two. I also raised runt baby pigs. My neighbor had a feedlot, and he would give me his babies that might not make it. My mom lived with us when we were doing all the critters. I had a big garden. I grew enough for the weeds to choke out. I grew enough for to eat, and there was plenty for me to can my crop one year I had 49 tomato plants and boil boy did I have that tomatoes? even the neighbors came and picked tomatoes till they didn’t wanna pick them anymore and people came from our church and picked tomatoes can or to freeze. My neighbor called one day and she said friend of theirs. Just got a divorce and had a lot of kids she wanted to know if she could come and pick tomatoes, and all sure I was happy to help her. I get great joy watching you posts and remembering all the work with love in my heart. I wish I could do it again. My husband’s gone now he passed away, not quite two years ago when I have all those memories, and I wanted to share some with you.

[@sing2me]

Thank you, Nancy❣️ That was a lot of meat birds to raise, lady. You must be a vigorous breed. Where did you order your hatchlings from? Each friend was the recipient of a labor of love.❤️ God bless you with rewards on earth as they are in heaven.

[@sunsetheritage]

I would absolutely LOVE to attend the festival. I’m in Michigan, but I’d make the drive just to be able to meet you Ruthann!! I had placed orders for 120 meat birds and also some laying hens, ducks and turkeys from Murray back in December for this year. I had to cancel everything because my husband decided he wanted a divorce January 28. The divorce is going as planned, I’m getting a house built on property that I bought years ago, but I still have to deal with building new fences and a barn for my livestock that I have. God is getting me through this and I’m going to be stronger in the end. Enjoy your baby chicks!! I’m enjoying my baby piglets that were born this week 🐷🧡 Lorie 😊

[@juliapearce4380]

So sorry. ❤️🙏

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

May the Lord be your guiding light and provider 🙏🏻

[@laurenj.5312]

May God bless you.

[@lobo1368]

I’m in Michigan too. I’m so sorry you’re having to start over. Praying for you that you will find peace in your new place ❤🎉 hugs

[@lindaseel9986]

God Almighty is with you. You will see that you are doubled blessed. Much love from Grandma Linda in Martinsburg WV. 🙏🙏🙏💕💞💓

[@jacquelinerWQ]

Not wanting to take someone’s place in the contest, I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate how you and your beautiful family take such good care of your farm animals! Respect for the food farmers grow is so important! ❤😊

[@Ruthannzimm]

Wow, thank you

[@carmalitayanock9584]

I love my Saturday morning visit to your homestead. It makes me smile & sets my day for calm & peace. And I love learning. I always come away feeling like as I advance in my journey, I'll have some knowledge to push me forward. As usual, God bless you, your family & homestead. And may God continue to bless your hands at everything you set them to do.

[@carolynmills513]

Please, please film the processing of the birds and the growth and development of them along the way. Looking forward to seeing the whole process. So sweet to see rambunctious little boys being so gentle with those adorable chick's. Great job raising your kids!

[@Ruthannzimm]

Yes. We will film and show!!

[@NoOneUKnow-c3y]

@@Ruthannzimm Also please show the tractor that you make for them. My husband and I have been trying to figure out how to build one and we were thinking about something similar to what you are building.

[@twanabanawna3878]

​@@Ruthannzimm I know you only showed clips from the build, but will the large openings keep them safe? Everyone keeps telling me I have to use 1/4" hardware cloth and it's EXPENSIVE!!! Oh, and how many meat chickens to one tractor? You don't have to answer here ... Just hoping for info in the video next week 😊.

[@Mammiesgarden]

I loved it when the chicks were all asleep and you said “Good morning “ and they all jump up, so cute ❤

[@Ruthannzimm]

Yes. It’s my favorite part!!!

[@jenniferr2057]

I appreciate your honesty about not enjoying the chicken raising and processing - and the reality of the breed vs the amount of work. thank you!

[@babsgilbert518]

My biggest problem with raising meat birds is getting too attached. I dearly love the silly, little busy characters. Your boys are getting a wonderful education. God bless you and yours.

[@gaardengrl]

I love watching the smiles on your children's faces when interacting with the animals. I learn something from every one of your videos! You are a great teacher (and i know... I'm a teacher!)

[@riverduck3]

Aren't we so blessed to have this great teacher Ruth Ann in our lives?!

[@brandicollins2274]

I would love to win the ticket because my mom and dad, sister and brother in law, and my husband and I purchased 40 acres in 2022 to begin living differently for our kids. We want to live together and teach our kids about the land, the animals, the garden, and how living differently can give you freedom from the rat race of life. We want to slow down and experience life instead of just living day to day in the monotony of what society tells us it has to be like. This is how I grew up learning from my grandma and I want to pass that along to my children. I have learned so much from your channel and we love Murray McMurray!!

[@Ruthannzimm]

Congratulations!!! You are the winner!!!! Please email me At [e-mail] asap!!!

[@Margo5050]

Maxwell really is a natural with the animals. He looks the happiest then.

[@Ruthannzimm]

Yes

[@cherihabegger9856]

I have some friends who, in the last couple of years, have started their own homestead. They have 4 boys, one of whom is married now, and they work so hard at their jobs and then at their farm. They have a built, a greenhouse, a chicken coop, have started selling eggs, and now are selling at our local Farmer's Market. Getting a chance to go and listen to homesteading speakers and learning so much more about living off of the land would mean so much to them.

[@RachelDevault-o4k]

Love our chickens!!! Homegrown is so much better then store bought. We only have a little over an acre, but we bought a couple of bottle lambs, hair sheep, and hope to breed for lamb meat. People think we are crazy, but that is ok!!! We love it!

[@marikajohn6522]

U.K. here 😊😊 from Murray’s to Tummy’s. Couldn’t get fresher. How wonderful to be able to pick. 😊😊

[@patevans3709]

Maxwell has such a tender heart--especially for the farm animals. He is aways gentle and encouraging. I see him in vet school or animal science at ISU!

[@lisameek4863]

I always say the very same thing. And he has the biggest smile when he is holding them 🥰

[@thedirtprincess3293]

I agree! And i know if that is his destiny, God will show the way!

[@justpatty7328]

Agreed!

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

Oh my, what a dream to meet all my gardening/homesteading idols ❤ I’ve been watching Charles Dowding for many many years, he is a treasure!!!! It has been a joy to watch some of you newer KZbin’rs gain such popularity in such a short time, it’s a blessing that y’all have chosen to share your skills !!!! For those who have never raised their own meat birds, I can promise you, it’s the best chicken you will ever eat !!! I just love watching your kids enjoy farm life ❤❤❤

[@avcmom549]

Your joy shines through on every video. I wish I had enough space to raise my own protein.

[@PolyonthePrairie1]

This is my first year with my own homestead. I would love to go to Murray fest as all of the people that got me to this point will be there and what an exciting way to honor that.

[@maryannd9256]

Love seeing the boys loving on the animals 💙💙💙. Sweet little chicks and baby calf. Have a very nice weekend!

[@Jazz1959]

I remember helping my grandparents on their farm with the chickens. Brings back great memories for me.

[@homesteadinthevalleyannabo6783]

Such a natural and beautiful way to teach family about food. I’ve been raising more or less 100 meat birds for many yrs too. The last several years I have been starting them the way Harvey usery teaches with an electrolyte drink of honey vinegar garlic etc in their first water . And he suggests first food to be boiled eggs. I have been able to skip the medicated food with this method. Ruth, Such a well made video with all the beautiful new farm life . I am with you when it comes to processing, it’s my least favourite chore of the year. But I premake frozen pizza for the day and invite people that want to learn and the time goes a little faster.

[@InGODitrust5and2]

Thank you for putting up this video Ruth. I unfortunately can not enter your competition as I live in Australia, but I am very grateful to have learned so much from you. I have been toying with the idea of meat chickens for the past month or so as I refuse to purchase meat from a supermarket and buying organic is quite expensive. I think you have sold me. I have a big feed trough like yours too, so that is sorted, just got to source some meat chick's in Queensland. Thank you for all you share. I have learned so much from watching you. God bless 🙏

[@denisemead764]

Brings back memories of getting new baby chicks each spring! McMurray Fest and VIP ticket would be a great field trip for a family! Springtime fun! 😊

[@AZJH8374]

Ruth Ann. Lots of people lqst year switched. Now they are going back to Cornish Cross God Bless you all and many prayers 🙏🏻 Nurse Judi in Scottsdale AZ and Eucharistic Minister 🙏🏻 ☦️ ❤️

[@missk3589]

Yes I would love to attend as my first fest experience. To be able to listen and learn from people with such a wealth of experience would be well worth every minute spent there. I am only a few years into building our homestead and it would be amazing to be around people, in person, who value this knowledge.

[@bettysshowtime7400]

It would be so wonderful to win such a fantastic prize but unfortunately I live too far away in Cape Breton, Canada. I would love to meet you RuthAnn and also Rory Feek,wow how awesome, love his music and I love your videos. Gods love shines through your eyes and work! May He bless you and your family even more !

[@silver_threads]

We have been stewing over the pros and cons of raising meat chickens for about a year. I am beyond excited to watch your process, especially happy to see your chicken tractor design next week! A few weeks ago I helped out a friend butchering a few of her excess/more aggressive chickens...my first time doing that! So proud of myself! We have a perfect little patch of land that would work for a chicken tractor to be moved around in. So...can't wait! As always, I enjoy your weekly update and learning from you. Please do not add me to the drawing for the Murray Fest. I would love to attend, but the timing is not good for us to make the trip from Ohio to Iowa at that time. Blessings, Marie

[@BenettaFoster-kx8tc]

I would love to attend the Murray festival. I am a fourth generation farmer's daughter that continues to engage in most of the practices that you do daily. When my children were being homeschooled thirty plus years ago, we did many of the activities that you do daily with your children. We were pioneers in the now popular home schooling movement. Cornish Cross chickens have been our chickens of choice. Now, my children are continuing to demonstrate those skills taught to them so many years ago. All of them can great quantities of meat and vegetables, as well as raising their own meat products. Bless you for your ability to educate so many!

[@Ruthannzimm]

That’s awesome!!!

[@ElizabethBarber-tu9ey]

3 sweet boys. I know you are proud of all your children!

[@pamlowe451]

My husband and I look forward to visiting with your family every week. We have gotten our layers from Murray McMurray Hatchery for several years. Now that we have retired this will be our first year raising meat birds! We have 30 chicks now and would LOVE to visit the hatchery for more!! Thank you RuthAnn for all your insight and advise. P.S. My husband says meeting you and all the speakers would be worth a trip from NC.

[@riverduck3]

I miss going to NC to visit my relatives there. My grandmother lived in W. Cramerton, and the rest of my family were in Lowell, McAdenvile, and the Gastonia are. NC is where my heart travels many times.

[@teresaburleson7226]

I love Ruthann’s channel I’m an “old”country girl and was reared on a farm in WNC mountains ⛰️ 👋 so I’m very comfortable in her world. She brings back a lot of precious memories of growing up on the farm 🫶❤️

[@whitefeather572]

I have layers and have seriously been considering doing a round of meat birds myself. I would love to see the chicken tractor progress so I can show Hubby and get him on board! Great to see the children with the animals!

[@cathybackus5159]

I miss my farm. Watching your handsome young gentlemen handle those chicks with tender loving care is so awesome.

[@riverduck3]

❤🙏

[@roxanneheusdens8051]

My first experience with chickens was with McMurray chicks! My friend lived on a farm and was going to start raising chicks and I went to the post office with her to pick them up! We came home and got them all set up and I've been hooked ever since!

[@conniegage2141]

I love chickens. Little children get excited to handle them. They are definitely worth the trouble to raise.

[@robinstoner6624]

I would love to get the VIP ticket! My husband and I have had chickens for probably 20+ years and he has finally branched out to a few different breeds! The grandkids are showing in 4-H now, so choosing breeds for them to have would be a blast! We’ve just been married 40 years last month!

[@jeanfeller4961]

My older kids used to raise cornish cross birds for our family and friends. I never had anything to do with it but now my younger kids want to give it a try and I know very little about it. Thank you for taking the time to teach us!

[@BWell247]

Your joy and excitement in this video is contagious and I love the extras you add/keep that show the personalities of the boys. I live in southeast Missouri and it looks like it’s an 8 hour drive. We have 1.5 acres so large animals are not an option. I have been following your advice and recipes. I no long buy bread or yogurt and am getting ready to make my first farm cheese, thanks to you. You said master one thing at a time and that’s the best advice anyone has ever given me regarding homesteading, thank you! I can’t wait to learn about this through your videos. Thank you for being so generous and sharing your knowledge freely!

[@bhive6026]

I can't help but grin at that kid in the back grinning at us!!

[@betsymcmillan3260]

I love your channel! My husband is retired a poultry veterinarian DVM MPVM. This new hybrid poultry is not good meat. These rapid growing birds all develop with connective tissue disorders called “ woody breast”. I have been off chicken for 8 years now because every store only carries this chicken meat. Chicken was my favorite meat. We’re going to grow out our own birds so we can get our meat from the less used stock. I also had three dream all on seperate occasions where the Lord pointed down to a chicken and said “ unclean”. Then I began to research why the grainy, ropy,flavorless meat was all that was sold in stores.

[@ashleyhicks360]

My husband and I have been working on our homestead for 6 years now and your videos each week as well as other speakers attending the Murray Fest have been life savors for us and have kept us going. It would be a dream come true to get to actually meet you all in person. We are surrounded by large monocropping farmers and would love to be around some like-minded people and learn all that we can. We are only 3.5 hours away, so it is totally doable to come to the Fest and bring our children, they would love to get to pick out their own little chicks. Thank you for this opportunity.

[@poplarridgehomestead162]

How fun to pick your own chicks. And what a great group of speakers! This will be our first year with meat birds. Cant wait!!! Thank you for all your fantastic information!!

[@bushpushersdaughter]

My body was so tense "helping" that last baby bird make the big jump into the barn! Best isometric exercise ever - ha!

[@Ruthannzimm]

Right?!

[@kimsargeant8126]

I know what you mean.

[@pamlowe451]

@@Ruthannzimm It did make for an intense moment!

[@riverduck3]

Am I the only one who feels that I'm that little bird watching others make it while I keep struggling, and then I'm always the last one? lol

[@thedirtprincess3293]

​@@riverduck3you just have to get your "flap and grab" coordinated with your lunge forward. Ive been working on my "flap and grab" for a while now and still dont have it right. 😊

[@vernagutierrez6977]

First, I have to tell you, I absolutely LOVE your channel. Always learning from you. What an amazing opportunity!!! We just bought 20 acres in MO to begin our homesteading journey. The Murray Festival would be such a great way to kick it off! It would be great to meet you ❤

[@Ruthannzimm]

Ohhhh God bless you!!!

[@hardefarm4006]

I have always used Murray McMurray hatchery. Great customer service and have never had a problem with receiving my meat chicks, or any of my other flock birds.

[@tubelvr23]

I would love to go to have the tour and meet you and Jess. This is just not my year for it. Praying fornext year. I've been putting a lot of time, money, and sweat into my urban homestead. Nice to see so many fellow Michiganders. 😊 I enjoyed seeing all the chicks with your children.

[@hope2btm]

My 12 year old daughter inspired me to get chickens. Because she pushed me we now have 3. Loving every minute of it and would love to get into it more and take her somewhere to also inspire her. A tour of hatchery would be amazing. Thank you for all you do! Love this channel ❤️

[@donnalewis5573]

I absolutely love Rory Feek. We have laying hens and would really like to learn about meat birds and raise our own. I have not been to a festival and would love it! I enjoy your videos. We have 11 grandchildren, and meat birds would be a blessing for all of us.

[@mccallumjc1]

I would love to have a small homestead farm! I live vicariously on a homestead through you and your family! God bless you!

[@crazychickenladyhomestead6918]

Love the round trough you're using for the brooder! We use either a long metal trough or a pet tent I got on Amazon as brooders. I would totally drive to Iowa from Georgia. I have ordered from Murray McMurray before but several died in transit because the postal service here kept shipping them between Macon and Peachtree City. It took 4 days to get our chicks and 5 to get our turkeys. We just stopped mail order and bought our own incubators. I'm just happy that we still have a breeding pair of turkeys, Americaunas and Barred Rocks.

[@leslieclifton7625]

Thank you RuthAnn for this subject. I'm changing out my laying hens this year. Finally got my Lavender Orpingtons. We are heading toward 100s. A tour sounds wonderful, but I don't travel.

[@pellis8985]

Would love to visit McMurray but I live in lower Alabama. One consideration on raising meat birds for folks that live in warmer climates. It might be a good idea to raise your meat birds in the fall rather than the summer so that when you get to butchering your animals, You aren’t dealing with 100 degree temps and lots of flies and bugs. Thanks for your lovely videos!!! I look forward to them every Saturday💗

[@barbaralaabs4466]

I loved watching and listening to the ducks coming and going. Thanks for letting us hear their quiet sounds.

[@tammynevil7852]

WOW, That's a lot of great speakers. I follow many of those channels. I would love to go to the hatchery and see all the birds and learn about the different birds. I have thought about raising meat birds but don't know enough to feel ready. I'm watching people like you and as Jess says, "Turn your waiting room, into a classroom". I'm trying. Thanks for ALL you teach us!!!!

[@Sirius-ly]

Just hearing of the devastation in Iowa with tornados today. Please let us know you and your family are OK! 🙏🙏🙏

[@MCPeciliar]

I would LOVE to tour a hatchery & meet all the wonderful people I follow on KZbin ❣️🙏 Thank You for sharing your skills & knowledge. I just don't know how you have time for all the things you do. I have been raising chickens for several years now & they are the easiest to care for. Although my chickens are mix breeds I still love having them. My whole family (6) benefits from them although my children are all grown now I have 7 grandchildren from my 3 oldest children ages 23 years down to 4 months. Thank You & May our ALMIGHTY continue to Bless you & yours❣️🙏

[@jennfoley325]

I love all of your videos!! And, I don’t know why I tend to get emotional at the end when I read (and you remind me) that God is Good. Thank you for sharing your life in Iowa with this girl from Oklahoma.

[@EileenB-t5k]

I love your videos. You are an amazing teacher. Caring for ones family and providing food is such valuable knowledge (a lost art almost). Thank you for sharing. It would be a blessing to finally meet you, and attend the festival. And of course one would need to buy more chicks, lol. Chicken math is real!! God bless❤

[@melissagaspar406]

I would love to win tickets to the Murray Fest Midwest. We are moving from Montana to Mississippi to start a small homestead. Chickens are the first thing on my list of animals to get and I can't wait to have them again. It would be a blessing to meet the speakers at the conference and a double blessing to have chickens from Murrays! Thank you for all of your videos. I am learning so much!

[@gamingwithfrodo]

What a fantastic opportunity! You are such a calm, knowledgable and effective teacher. We got our hens locally, but it was a Murry McMurray baby chick booth at a recent event that motivated my youngest to ask repeatedly for chickens. We have a few laying hens, including a few black Jersey giants for later processing, but I’m not looking forward to that day at all. I’m glad that others like you share that you raise meat birds yet still struggle with processing day. As my children are learning: It IS important to learn how to take care of your family, including doing necessary chores you really don’t like doing. I’d love to meet you and so many of those speakers as well as other attendees. Touring the hatchery would also be great!

[@corinnedelagorgendiere1109]

You are such an inspiration! We are just starting out with becoming more self-sufficient. We have had laying chickens and a garden for fresh eating for years but, by watching your videos (as well as many of those who are listed in the vip pass), I have learned so much that we are finally investing our time and money into becoming more self-sufficient- I started canning last year and plan to do more this year! And we are now putting up fence for dairy goats, cows, and meat chickens!! You really are an inspiration, Ruthann!

[@lucindasutt7365]

All those Babies, so cute. I was cheering the little Ducks as they kept trying to get over the door jamb. Great information you shared.

[@ElizabethTowe]

I'm hoping that your sweet family remains safe after yesterday's terrible storms! It would be a comfort to see even a short post from you to let your supporters know that you all survived. Your family is in my prayers.

[@ejvertin]

Attending the festival would be an incredible opportunity! We love McMurray, would be so great to support them and meet you and all the other homesteaders and farmers speaking! The possibility to tour and see their facilities is exciting. Thank you for all you do!

[@reginagibson1908]

Praying that the family that is in the greatest need be the one that wins. I live in a housing complex in the middle of the city. I enjoy watching you and the family. Many blessings for your family from West Virginia.

[@christinefrederick7451]

I wish I wasnt all the way on the northeast & couldnt go... I have just started raising laying birds, 5 wks old today!!!!

[@ErinsTastyHeritage]

RuthAnn, I love how excited you got when you were telling about picking the chicks😉. Too cute

[@dougtravers2703]

Showing my grandkids all the things and helping them learn why we are doing all of this, learning from all of the speakers, connecting with other like minded people. I'd also love to see Roy Feek perform, I lost my wife to cancer as well.

[@cherrinorton2141]

Great video, you put raising protein into perspective for me. We raise a big garden and have about 130 laying hens. We need to try meat birds. I would love to attend this event. I think so many other people are more deserving and in more need than husband and myself. I appreciate all you do to bring all you knowledge and valuable skills to us all. I have learned so much from you! I so appreciate you and your sweet family. Blessings to you always.❤

[@maryseaman312]

That stock tank is sheer genius! We have raised 24 chicks one time, but it was an interesting experience. I do not travel, even across the state of Washington, but I hope that the event will be well-attended and very beneficial - - that is very special. The goslings! oh, my goodness! I didn't think they would make it ... persistence did pay off!

[@kimafry]

Wow!! Several of the MurrayFest speakers are who I’ve followed for years and have inspired me to build my homestead! Charles Dowding is the very first KZbin channel I followed. He made it look so easy to garden that I thought, “I can do this”. I would drive the 18 hours to see all y’all! 🤣

[@Ruthannzimm]

That is awesome!

[@melissahankla8303]

I have been watching you and your sweet family for three years now. You’ve guided me through gardening tips, sourdough, animal husbandry, canning, etc. we moved from city life in So Calif to Nevada mountain living for 12 years and now, in my later years, the farmlands of NW Montana. I now have 35 meat birds and a large coop of laying hens with some roosters in the mix. I would love seeing the animal science of a large hatchery. I’ve learned so much just from KZbin but to see it live would be a real blessing and treat. I’d make it to Iowa no matter what I had to do. I’d especially love to hear your speaking presentation as well as the other speakers there! ❤

[@badgermamaw1870]

Great video Ruthann, great advise for the chickens. Your sons are getting tall, they are such good helpers. I love the instruction, and direction Alvin is showing the boys while he is building the chicken tractor. Young minds absorb the information. Their love for their farm animals is so obvious. Great job. God is good.❤

[@jasonwardjward]

Your videos always inspire me. You have taught me so many tricks and tips that have saved me many headaches. I would love to attend the seminar and meet everyone, especially you Ruthann. I live in Northern Indiana. God bless you for all you do😊

[@simplydivine5053]

Ruthann is it possible to do.a video talking about the minimum supplies you'd need to.butcher the chickens? That would be so.helpful to us who are starting out with getting meat chickens. Thanks for whatever you do. Your information about homesteading is so valuable. I for one, appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us. You have such a kind heart! May God bless you always.

[@marking-time-gardens]

Oh Ruthanne! It would be wonderful to come to the festival and meet you in person! We will see what God has in mind. Whoever wins will truly be blessed! Love watching the Muscovy ducks... they have special meaning for me! Blessings on your family and growing homestead! 🌻🐛Carolyn in Ohio 🌿💚

[@shellymiller8492]

God is good ALL the time! I wanted to say that first. I would enjoy going to the festival just to be able to experience the hatchery side of things. Also, for the knowledge of the speakers, we are new at homesteading and truly believe that this could not be possible without people like you. Thank you for making the videos of all of the things it takes to be self-sufficient. May God bless you and your family abundantly!

[@jessannelehman]

We live in WI and would love to make the drive to the festival! We started our homesteading journey as a newly formed family 2.5 years ago. My 2 big kids lost their mom in 2020 and this lifestyle has been part of their healing journey as long as my husband’s healing. We are really starting to gain some momentum now as I had a baby in March 2023 and my husband is a police sergeant. For about a year m we weren’t able to put as much energy into the homestead as we wanted. I feel so excited to raise my children in this lifestyle and continue to learn to see heaven come to earth through this little piece of land that God has given us!

[@Nurseferatuu]

I would love to win the ticket as I have recently started my homesteading journey. I have purchased property and was able to put my parents in a home there so they could retire. They have been in the ministry for their whole lives and didn’t have anything. My mother broke my heart when she moved into their new home saying, “I never imagined our final years would be so happy!” We have chickens for eggs and some small gardens. I would like to learn how from the speakers and keep old traditions and knowledge alive for the next generation. I continue to watch and learn from your channel and am always so encouraged by your testimony. God is good all the time!

[@annaoneill4769]

Oh WOW! This is fantastic. My parents were homesteaders but by the time I came along they were done and moved to the city. Now I'm getting into it for myself. My parents are now gone and I dont have them as a resource for knowledge, so everything I have learned is from some of the speakers including you that will be there. I would LOVE to be able to talk to them. I have so many questions still. People come to me for advice because I implement what I have learned from you all, but I tell them to go check out those channels because that's where I get my knowledge. Homesteading for me is my therapy. Will each speaker be recorded for those that might not be able to make it? What a fantastc prize this would be to win.

[@shirleyfrazier4476]

Ruth Ann, I love your videos. I don’t homestead but O enjoy watching. You are very knowledgeable. Your Mennonite background helps you to know what to do. I have noticed that of all your children Maxwell seems to love the animals most. He is so gentle with them. Maybe he will become a vet. Wouldn’t that be nice?😀

[@momtomandl2]

I would love to attend the festival. Several of my favorites are speakers. And raising meat chickens is absolutely on my list of wishes! How cool would it be to get to handpick my first batch. It would be awesome for those of us that live far away to have a live stream or better yet a recorded conference that we could watch later...

[@WillowsGarden]

Hello RuthAnn and sweet family! The McMurry Festival would be a wonderful opportunity, but unfortunately I live in Tennessee and too far away. I really enjoyed the children’s excitement over the chicks. You have a wealth of knowledge in homesteading. You should be a speaker too at the festival. Rory Feek is such a wonderful and Godly man. I have enjoyed many years of his beautiful music him and his lovely wife sang. I hope everyone has a blessed weekend!

[@LauraThompson-bb2sp]

Oh, I'm SO with you on the meat birds. I do broilers for exactly the same reason. When its time, I'm SO ready for them to go to our Amish butcher. We also raise turkeys and I am always sad to see the turkeys go. I LOVE their calls and calmness. Their little purrs. I shoot to have a full chicken in the freezer for each week of the year, but this year we have had much more success finding turkeys. Broilers have been quite elusive!

[@aveyacres]

It would be such an honor to attend the festival and get to meet you and all the other wonderful mentors. Our next step in homesteading is learning to raise meat chickens! 😊

[@janaehaase1104]

Your channel has become the highlight of our family’s Saturday morning! I’d love to have the chance to handpick my own birds for the kiddos!

[@bobrush9360]

My wife and I enjoy watching your videos and learning from you. We are new to the homestead journey and we are planning on attending Murray Fest but a VIP ticket is a stretch for our budget. I would love for my wife to be able to visit the hatchery because she has never experienced anything like that before. Thanks God is good!

[@kimberlypagel7867]

Oh the chicks you got from Murray’s are so beautiful 🤩 my husband and I are new homesteaders! Thank you for sharing these great tips for meat birds! What a blessing you and your family are to so many!! We would love the opportunity to “shop” at Murray’s! 🎉

[@lablover1972]

I have a brooder heat plate and use a ceramic heat bulb I have used also. I normally raise meatbirds early spring. Im southwest central IA and thankfully when them stinkies get about 3wks or so they are more or less off heat and its warm enough they can go outside because I am allergic to pine I have to use washable pee pads in my brooders. Love being able to hatch my own layers that I can replace older layers with. I raise Muscovy to show and eat, they are the easiest to raise as mama raises them lol Have a hen due to hatch within the next 5 days.

[@eudorasalih4004]

I love seeing the boys loving on the chicks from Philadelphia

[@iluvmysix]

I hope this festival is an annual event!! I'm in Iowa and would love to attend next year. I have been trying to talk my husband into raising chickens. Maybe a trip to Murray McMurray would convince him!

[@candaced6976]

We are still new to homesteading and we plan to add chickens to our farm. We already have a coop ready to build. 🐥

[@judymoen674]

Oh RuthAnn I do hope you and your family are safe from any harm from the weather. I just saw on the local news that Iowa was hard hit by nasty weather. We in Texas are not strangers to wicked weather.

[@kirstenrogers91]

Wow, what great fun it will be. I would LOVE to meet you and Anne! Thank you for the opportunity.

[@auntnut2011]

Murrary McMurray has the best chicks! I have gotten baby birds from them in the past and they are always healthy and beautiful!

[@rebeccabran5191]

Would love to attend the event. Learn as much as possible, trying to become self-sufficient. As well 6 several health issues. This is the best way

[@titasmom678]

Hope you are safe with all the bad weather your state and other states are experiencing.

[@1stcenturybeliever777]

I would love to win the ticket to the Murray Fest! Never been to a "homesteading" conference before. Thank you for the opportunity, Ruthann.

[@maggieheilmann5905]

I would love to attend the festival! I am in Wisconsin. We love raising our own chickens for meat. Didn't get any this year, so I would love to go pick out chicks! Thank you! Many Blessings :)

[@richeleschoening7782]

Checking in on you and your family, praying you are safe from these tornadoes.

[@Ruthannzimm]

Much appreciated

[@EricVermeer]

Wow, we are only an hour away from this festival but hadn’t heard about it. We would LOVE to take the kids there and meet you and the other speakers, and see those adorable chicks!