A Wild Turkey Chase: Thanksgiving Revelries in the Sunflower State

When November's chill grips the heartlands, it isn't just the amber waves of grain that shiver under Kansas's sprawling skies. No, we're rustling up something far more peculiar—a Thanksgiving escapade that would have Dorothy clicking her ruby slippers with bewildered delight.

In a state where tradition and eccentricity dance a waltzing tornado, preparing for America’s feast day is nothing short of an odyssey into the soul of Kansas itself—rustic yet ambitious, tranquil yet wonderfully bizarre. Buckle up; we’re not in conventional territory anymore.

Start your journey at **The Prairie Chicken Capital (Cassoday, KS 66842)** — yes, you heard right. Cassoday isn’t content with mere turkeys; these folks exalt their booming fowl friends with gusto matched only by their famed breakfasts every first Sunday from March through October. Who needs roast turkey when you can celebrate prairie chickens? It sets quite a tone for what's to come.

Next on our list is **Green Dirt Farm (19935 Mt Bethel Rd, Weston MO 64098)** because who said sheep can't be part of this holiday? They offer exquisite grass-fed cheese tastings—an unorthodox side dish to complement your cranberry sauce. The farm embodies Kansas’s hardworking spirit while catering to those seeking a dash of pastoral tranquility before holiday chaos ensues.

Now take your enlightened self over to **Lucas**, home to masterpieces like S.P Dinsmoor's Garden of Eden (305 E 2nd St., Lucas KS 67648). Here lies proof that Kansan ambition knows no bounds—a concrete sculpture garden narrating humanity's history and destiny. This folk art spectacle might just inspire some avant-garde table decor or philosophical discussions as you pass the mashed potatoes around.

For literary musings amid preparations, visit **Blue Skyways' William Inge Center for the Arts (205 South College Street Independence KS 67301)** in Independence named after local Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright William Inge - whose intimate human portraits are much akin to gathering round for dinner talk about life’s trivialities and profundities alike.

No traditionalist could scorn a pie-focused pilgrimage to **Somerset Ridge Vineyard & Winery** near Paola (**29725 Somerset Rd., Paola KS 66071**), which pairs intricate vintages with homemade pies sourced straight from family recipes—the kind Ma Joad might've baked had she been so inclined during Steinbeck-esque travels across this very state.

As twilight descends upon cornfields stretching beyond sight—or perhaps imagination—it may seem fittingly Kansan to conclude this pre-Thanksgiving romp at *Subterra Castle*—a former missile silo turned Airbnb (15513 Missile Base Road Eskridge KS) offering underground lodging experience as fascinatingly progressive as it is starkly medieval; feast here if dare!

If eyes still crave visual feasts amongst all edible indulgence then let murals downtown Wichita be thy banquet hall—vivid strokes tell tales equal parts whimsical and reflective as any penned by native son Langston Hughes himself.

This jaunt through Kansas proves preparation needn’t hinge solely on stuffing birds but rather embracing quirks aplenty—a true homage paid via immersion within its idiosyncratic embodiment of America’s pioneering spirit coupled endearingly with Midwestern hospitality.

Remember Websites:

- Green Dirt Farm: [www.greendirtfarm.com](http://www.greendirtfarm.com)

- Somerset Ridge Vineyard & Winery: [www.somersetridge.com](http://www.somersetridge.com)

- Subterra Castle Airbnb Listing: [Airbnb/SubterraCastle](https://www.airbnb.com/subterracastle)

Twitter Handles:

- @prairiechickencapital

- @greendirtfarm

- @somersertridge

So go forth! Embrace both harvest bounty and ye olde traditions twisted anew under wide-open plains skies—as unpredictable and thriving as any passage written by Thompson amidst his own wild hunts behind reality's veil—and savor your Heartland Thanksgiving adventure amidst esoteric echoes resonating down each sun-soaked county road less traveled.