Why can't the President pardon more attractive turkeys.

[raingarden]

This was the day that the U.S. President has to have a cerimonial pardoning of a turkey. Quaint, I guess. It was started by Harry Truman. Truman and Eisenhower pardoned attractive bronze birds. They could have almost passed for a turkey from the first Thanksgiving. But starting with Kennedy the pardoned turkey has been a white broad-breasted production variety. That would be OK, but the bird always looks like it was just pulled from a cramped production house. They are invariably ragged and something you would be ashamed to have in your own yard.. For such an auspicious occasion, they could get well-groomed birds with attractive pattern. How hard would it be to bring in a more photogenic turkey suitable for the show ring? Someone should write a letter.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I think pardoning a bird from a cramped production house is the point. Our backyard birds usually live great lives, even if they end up on the table. Those birds are the ones who need pardoning, imo. But, yes. They are rough looking.

 

[Bo Garrett]

I often times have trouble distinguishing which is the turkey, especially of late!!!!

 

[SarahGfa]

The commercial turkeys are so fat, they usually die shortly after being pardoned. It would be kinder to put them out of their misery and eat them. I agree they should give the president a heritage turkey instead.

 

[Amer]

There was a petition to make it a heritage turkey so the heritage breeds would get more exposure but sadly that clearly didn’t pan out.