NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The gift turkeys to the White House this Thanksgiving are from Minnesota. John Zimmerman of Northfield, chair of the National Turkey Federation, has been grooming a flock of 44 birds from which two will be selected as especially suited for the 16-hour trip to Washington for a ceremonial presentation to President Biden. Per a custom dating apocryphally to 1865, the president will pardon them so they don’t end up on a platter. They then will spend the rest of their days in contented retirement back in Minnesota at the Farmamerica agricultural museum in Waseca. They will welcome visitors.
Gobbler at the Rose Garden. President Kennedy pronounces the 1963 pardon on November 19. That year the turkey was a handsome 55 pounds.