A FAMILY farming business is set to mark its milestone 50th anniversary after the pandemic delayed its celebrations.

Kelly Turkeys was founded in Essex by Derek Kelly in 1971 who was looking to build on 10 years of experience.

He set about breeding white turkeys and by 1979 the breeds were winning shows across the country.

However, the early 1980s were the worst on record for Christmas turkeys and put the business in crisis.

This is when son Paul, now the company’s managing director, suggested changing from mass-produced white turkeys to the original bronze turkey from Mexico.

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Together Derek and Paul established a broad genetic base of traditional bronze turkeys and the KellyBronze was born.

Today, the Danbury-based business has 42 full-time employees with 65 seasonal workers during the autumn, and works with 22 contract farmers.

Over the decades Kelly Turkeys has made a name for itself.

Both Paul and Derek have received the prestigious Rupert Chalmers Award for outstanding contribution and commitment to the turkey industry.

The family firm is unique as its turkeys are bred for niche markets such as Christmas day and Thanksgiving in the USA, when consumers will indulge in a premium turkey.

Kelly Turkeys was set to celebrate its official 50th anniversary last year but the coronavirus pandemic postponed its plans.

Covid also forced the business to cancel Derek’s 90th birthday celebration in summer 2020.

The anniversary will now be marked by the Kelly Conference and Celebration on May 18, from 10am to 4pm, at the company’s Little Claydons Farm, near Howe Green.

The event will discuss milestones in the 50 years of the company, which has been at the forefront of promoting the traditional Christmas turkey and reviving the bronze breed, as well as plans for the next 10 years.

Visitors can look around the farm and hear a talk from TV presenter Jimmy Doherty on the future of farming.

Labour issues facing the sector, the impacts of the conflict in Ukraine and avian influenza will also be discussed.