Dozens gather at Alabama Governor’s Mansion for annual pardoning of turkeys
The annual pardoning of turkeys before Thanksgiving has been an Alabama tradition for 77 years.
Today at the Governor’s Mansion, Gov. Kay Ivey and other dignitaries held a ceremony to pardon two turkeys, who will be spared from becoming someone’s Thanksgiving meal.
This week, the public had the opportunity to vote on the names of the two turkeys, which are provided by the Bates Turkey Farm.
Gov. Ivey announced the winning names of the turkeys during her remarks.
“And now after careful consideration and taking a good look, I believe I have reached a final decision today by the power invested in me as governor of the State of Alabama, I am hereby granting a full pardon to “Phil” and “Buster.”
The names are a play on the political term of “filibuster.”
This week, the public was given the opportunity to vote on the names of the spared turkeys provided by Bates Turkey Farm. The winning names this year were “Gobbler” and “Cobbler.”
The pardoning celebration started in 1949 when Bates Turkey Farm founder W.C. Bates presented a turkey to then-governor Jim Folsom.
