As President Joe Biden pardons his last two turkeys during his term in office, the birds will spend their days at a center in Minnesota.
Biden pardoned Peach and Blossom on Monday from their Thanksgiving duties. The two lucky turkeys will be spared from the Thanksgiving table this year. They will then be sent to live at the Farmamerica in Minnesota, according to the National Turkey Federation.
Newsweek reached out to Farmamerica and the National Turkey Federation for comment.
"The lighthearted event has afforded the nation the opportunity to observe the opening of the holiday season of thanks with remarks by the president reflecting upon the many blessings of our nation," The Nation Turkey Federation website reads. "Following the White House Presentation, the National Thanksgiving Turkey and its alternate are transported to a university where they reside under the care of veterinarians and poultry science students."
According to the federation's website, the "Presidential Flock" is raised very similarly to turkeys that are marketed for consumer use. They are protected from extreme weather and predators in a barn and are free "to strut about" with access to water and feed. The food includes a mix of corn and soybeans.
The "Presidential Flock" is prepared for the White House event from an early age, as it has to be acclimated to the sounds of a crowd, camera lights and standing on a table. To do so, the turkeys listen to music.
To select the two turkeys that will be pardoned, the National Turkey Federation looks at the physical appearance and temperament of the birds as well.
Prior to the pardoning presentation, the turkeys may be visited by school children. They are also sometimes brought to local classrooms.
About Peach and Blossom
Biden pardoned Peach and Blossom this year from having to be Thanksgiving entrees. The two birds were born in Northfield, Minnesota, on July 18 and weigh 40 and 41 pounds respectively.
They were raised by John Zimmerman, the chairman of the National Turkey Federation, and his 9-year-old son Grant. Zimmerman has raised over 4 million turkeys over the last 35 years.
Zimmerman told reporters his birds listened to a variety of music, "everything from polka to classic rock."
The National Turkey Federation said Peach's favorite snack is a hotdish casserole, especially ones that are topped with tater tots. Blossom's favorite is cheese curds.
The birds stayed at the Willard InterContinental Washington Hotel ahead of their appearance Monday with Biden.
They will return to live at Farmamerica, an agricultural interpretive center in Waseca, Minnesota. Farmamerica touts itself on its website as being a place for people to "explore, discover and connect with the evolving story of agriculture through sensory experiences like guided walking tours of historic sites, field trips, family fun events, day camps, farm animal interactions, interactive exhibits, and crop research plots."
Farmamerica, also known as the Minnesota Agricultural Interpretive Center, was established in 1978 through Minnesota legislature to preserve and promote the state's connection to agriculture. The first few acres were donated by Roy and Marci Lukken. Now, the center has a 360-acre site, which includes a visitor center, pond, prairie, historical buildings and antique farm equipment.
The Pardoning of a Turkey Tradition
The tradition of a president receiving a turkey started in 1947 when former President Harry Truman received a live turkey from the National Turkey Federation.
In more recent years, the White House Presentation of the National Thanksgiving Turkey has included the "pardoning" of a turkey and its alternate. This started in 1989 with former President George H. W. Bush in 1989, which marked the 200th anniversary of former President George Washington's proclamation for Thanksgiving Day.
"School children were in attendance and the turkey was quite active," the National Turkey Federation wrote.
The names for the turkeys often come from suggestions submitted by the public. Now with Peach and Blossom, Biden has pardoned a total of eight turkeys. The other six turkeys' names are: Peanut Butter and Jelly (2021), Chocolate and Chip (2022), as well as Liberty and Bell (2023).
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