2019 Public Open House for National Thanksgiving Turkeys
Venue: Virginia Tech Livestock Judging Pavilion, Blacksburg
Directions: Google Map Link
Date: Sunday, December 1, 2019
Time: 12:00 - 4:00 PM
Event Types: Miscellaneous, Family Friendly
Cost: Free

Description:
Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences presents a Public Open House for the National Thanksgiving Turkeys on Sunday, December 1, 2019 at the Virginia Tech Livestock Judging Pavilion.

For the fourth consecutive year, the famous birds will make the journey from the White House, where the turkeys are "pardoned" by the president in a formal ceremony, to Blacksburg’s Gobblers Rest, where they will live out their days and get to know the HokieBird.

The public is invited to meet the two birds. Admission is free and all are welcome.

The two birds, one selected as the National Thanksgiving Turkey and its alternate, will join Peas and Carrots, the stars of last year’s event, at Gobblers Rest. The previous lucky birds, Wishbone and Drumstick, and Tater and Tot, have died due to natural causes, which is to be expected.

The 2019 National Thanksgiving Turkeys are being raised under the supervision of 2019 the National Turkey Federation Chairman Kerry Doughty, former president and CEO of Butterball LLC, and Butterball contract grower Wellie Jackson of North Carolina.

"We are extremely grateful for Virginia Tech’s continued hospitality in welcoming the National Thanksgiving Turkey and its alternate to Blacksburg,” Doughty said. “With a mascot like the HokieBird and the excellent care of the Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, we know these lucky birds will feel right at home at Gobblers Rest".

After two birds are chosen based on appearance and temperament, they head to Washington, D.C., where they stay at a hotel near the White House as part of a series of media events leading up to the presentation of the National Thanksgiving Turkey. One is chosen to take part in the Rose Garden ceremony and the other is its "wingman".

The event not only serves as the opening of the holiday season, but also reminds America of the history and role of agriculture, from feeding the world to growing the economy.

The National Turkey Federation began the tradition when it gave a live bird to President Harry S. Truman in 1947. More recent presidents have added the custom of “pardoning” both the National Thanksgiving Turkey and its alternate.

The Livestock Judging Pavilion is located at 445 Plantation Road in Blacksburg, VA on the campus of Virginia Tech.

For more information, visit: https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2019/11/cals-turkey2019.html.

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