“Turkeys and the moon brought us together.” — A very special meet-cute
It’s February 14th, St. Valentine’s Day, a time to celebrate love in all its forms. Here at Vermont Folklife, we often mark this sentimental season by turning our microphones towards friends and neighbors who are in love to ask the simple question, “How did you meet?” The Oxford English Dictionary (not to mention the entertainment industry) calls this kind of story a “meet cute,” and over the years we have been growing our collection of these short and sweet stories in our Archive. This year, we found one in an unexpected place!
“As we grew a relationship with the turkey, we also grew a relationship with each other.”
During an interview with Meg Egler and Lindsay “Bar” Barbieri for an oral history project centered around the hunting and wildlife management of wild turkeys in Vermont, Meg casually said, “As we grew a relationship with the turkey, we also grew a relationship with each other.” It was enough for VT Folklife audio producer Mary Wesley to ask for a second interview. Meg and Bar, who were both PhD students at UVM’s Gund Institute when they met, graciously agreed to share more about how they met and found love with a little help from their feathered friends.
Ready for more Meet Cutes?
Meg and Bar
Check out more of our meet cute collection in Episode 19, Episode 11, and Episode 4 of our VT Untapped podcast or in this playlist on SoundCloud. Some are from earlier interviews and some more recent. All are pretty darn cute!
Ready for more Turkey Tales?
Next month we’re thrilled to be co-hosting three “Listening Parties” with our partners at Vermont Fish & Wildlife and the National Wild Turkey Federation. Hear more from Meg and Bar, other turkey enthusiasts around the state, and even the wildlife biologists who oversaw the initial reintroduction of the species in Vermont 50 years ago!
Friday, March 15 - Harpoon Brewery Taproom and Beer Garden in Windsor, VT
RutlandWednesday, March 20 - Burlington Beer Company in Burlington, VT