Gov. Kim Reynolds pardons “Caitlin” and “Clark” a hen and a tom from a farm in Manson. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
DES MOINES — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds pardoned turkeys “Caitlin” and “Clark” at Terrace Hill ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday and thanked farmers for their contributions to the state.
The turkeys came from Moline Farms, which is celebrating 100 years of raising turkeys on their farm in Manson. Members of the Moline family stood next to the governor Tuesday morning as the spared turkeys roamed the grounds.
Reynolds said she bought a hefty 25 pound turkey from the Molines for her own Thanksgiving table and said she “always looks forward to this time of year.”
“Not only is it a time for us to really recognize our farmers and producers and all that they do to feed the world, but it’s kind of a kickoff for the holiday season,” Reynolds said.
Last year’s birds, “Freedom” and “Flourish,” were also raised by the Moline family. Brad Moline is president of the Iowa Turkey Federation and, along with his family, was joined by other members of the federation and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.
According to the proclamation, Iowa ranks seventh in the nation for turkey production and annually raises 12 million turkeys, constituting a $10.6 billion industry.
On Monday, President Joe Biden performed his final turkey pardoning, and spared “Peach” and “Blossom.”
The first official presidential turkey pardoning dates back to 1947 with President Harry Truman. Here in Iowa, Reynolds said the tradition began in the 1970s, but until 1989, she said the gubernatorially recognized turkeys were “sent back to the farm.”
“Caitlin” and “Clark” who were presumably named after the Iowa-native professional basketball player, are safe from the butchering block. Clark plays for the Indiana Fever.
“They are free to roam this Thanksgiving day, and they’ve got a lot of ground to do it on,” Reynolds said.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.