For one decade, Principal Jill Burnside has been flapping her wings while running around in a turkey costume as part of the annual Turkey Trot.

The tradition is 3 years old at Grant Elementary.

“It's something I brought over from Liberty (Elementary); I dress as a turkey, and we run a lap around the school,” she said. “It’s important kids are moving and seeing running can be fun. Running is one of my most favorite things to do, and I want kids to have fun, so it's something I just love to do with the kids.”

Burnside said at first, Grant students weren’t quite sure of the Turkey Trot, but now they embrace it.

“When I first came, the kids did not know what to think of it, but now they love it. They look forward to it. This year, the weather was awful, and they still had a blast,” she said.

This year, several students wore store-bought or homemade out of brown paper bag turkey costumes while they ran the one-third of a mile course. Several faculty, staff and parents joined in the fun.

Burnside, who loves to run half-marathons, completes the course with each grade, often running behind the flock, encouraging every student to finish.

“Our top runners get a prize, the fastest boy and girl runners in each grade level get a shirt, second place gets a pie, third place gets a turkey butter and fourth, fifth and sixth places receive ribbons. Our Tech Club students come up with a design. This year, it says, ‘What do you call a running Turkey?’ And then it says, ‘fast food,’” she said about the joke that’s fitting for those top runners.

Coinciding with the annual Turkey Trot is a food drive, earmarked for the Murray Children’s Pantry. This year, Grant Elementary students donated 15 large boxes of food.

“There was no formal competition, just an encouragement to see which grade can bring in the most food,” Burnside said.

The Turkey Trot tradition began for Burnside when she began as a principal at Liberty Elementary. She ran in her turkey costume there for seven years. Previously, former Principal Darren Dean also flapped his wings as a turkey.

“It’s just a fun tradition that gets the students moving,” she said. “At the same time, they’re thinking of others by donating food.” λ