Turkeys Seeking Trump Thanksgiving Pardon Must Strut Stuff

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A good presidential turkey is stuffed with showmanship.

A Minnesota turkey farmer and 4-H kids raised the official National Thanksgiving Turkey that was pardoned by President Donald Trump on Tuesday. They say the turkey needed to strut his stuff and gobble on command, yet show enough restraint to stay on a table for the big photo op.

It's the 70th anniversary of the National Thanksgiving Turkey tradition. It dates from 1947, when the National Turkey Federation presented a 47-pound gobbler to President Harry Truman. In those days, the turkeys were destined for dinner. Formal pardons began with President George H.W. Bush in 1989.

The perk of taking presidential turkeys to Washington goes to the chairman of the National Turkey Federation. This year, that's Carl Wittenburg from Alexandria, Minnesota.