MONEY

Pardon me? Iowa turkey headed for Obama White House

Donnelle Eller
deller@dmreg.com

It isn't easy getting invited to Thanksgiving at the White House — particularly if you're a turkey.

There's lots of auditioning. You have to look good, keep your cool in front of crowds and look spectacular on a presidential podium.

But if you play your cards right, you might just get the call to head to Washington.

This year, according to the Iowa Turkey Federation, the turkey getting that call will come from Iowa. He'll take center stage in what will be President Barack Obama's final Thanksgiving pardon at the White House.

One of 20 turkeys posing on a podium to see if he will be selected for the White House Thanksgiving feast.

It's the sixth time Iowa has provided the turkey for the presidential Thanksgiving tradition.

Iowa turkeys have been presented to Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, and now to Obama, the group said.

The National Turkey Federation began the tradition with its first presentation to President Harry Truman.

Iowa will actually send two turkeys to Washington, with Obama choosing the winning bird, based on its ease around crowds, the Iowa federation said.

Obama will get to name the bird, too, with four choices offered by the classmates of the producer's children.

The Iowa Turkey Federation declined to release the names, joking they were a national secret.

An Iowa turkey will travel to the White House for President Barack Obama's last Thanksgiving in the White House. Hopefully, he'll avoid the ax.

The two Iowa turkeys, winnowed from 20 specially raised for the White House Thanksgiving, will retire to a Virginia Tech teaching farm after their White House duty ends.

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

John Reicks, chairman of the National Turkey Federation, chose Iowa to provide the holiday turkey.

At the White House ceremony, the president typically “pardons” the turkey, after noting "the nation’s many blessings," the Iowa Turkey Federation said.

The Iowa group will host a “send-off” for the turkey from a family farm in northwest Iowa Friday morning.

“We highlight the family aspect of turkey farming, and celebrate with this fun, turkey-centered tradition,” said Gretta Irwin, executive director of Iowa Turkey Federation.