President to pardon Iowa turkey this Thanksgiving

by | Nov 16, 2016 | 5 Ag Stories, News

by Ben Nuelle

LISTEN: world-of-agriculture-11-17-16

Iowa will take the national spotlight this Thanksgiving. President Obama will pardon an Iowa turkey next Wednesday.

Through nearly seven decades, the President has received a turkey from the National Turkey Federation during Thanksgiving week.

?The current chairman of the National Turkey Federation gets to choose which state the turkeys come from. There are eight to ten states the produce a large population so if you think that logic every eight to ten years Iowa will get to send a turkey.?

Grant says they are honored to be chosen.

?We?re really excited. It?s a fun event and tradition we get to take part in. The two turkeys will be driven up to the DC area by a member of the turkey industry. They will stay in a hotel across the street from the White House. Wednesday before Thanksgiving the president will pick the one who seems the most photogenic and that will be the pardoned turkey.?

Grant says Executive Director Gretta Irwin will accompany the turkeys.

Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation presents the National Thanksgiving Turkey to the President for Thanksgiving. This is the sixth-time Iowa has presented the national Thanksgiving Turkey.