2011 News

WASHINGTON - Liberty, a turkey raised in Willmar, Minnesota, was pardoned by President Obama on Wednesday in the 64th National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation.
The 19-week-old, 45-pound bird and its understudy, named Peace, will be taken to George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens. After spending time on display through the holidays, the turkeys will live in comfort in a custom-made enclosure.

Obama joked that the turkey pardon is yet another piece of We Can't Wait executive action.
“We can’t wait to pardon these turkeys…literally, or else they’d end up next to the mashed potatoes and stuffing,” the president said.
Obama said Liberty has the distinction of being “the luckiest bird on the face of the Earth.”
Liberty and Peace were prepared for the White House pardoning by high school students from Willmar. The turkeys were acclimated to the noise and flashbulbs they could expect in the ceremony.

For the third straight year Jaindl Farms LLC has provided the First Family with two Grand Champion turkeys.  President Obama, his wife Michell, and his two daughters donate these turkeys to a local food bank.