| Date: | November 26, 2017 |
| Time: | 12:00 - 5:00 PM |
| Venue: | Virginia Tech Livestock Judging Pavilion |
| Description: |
Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences presents a Public Open House for the National Thanksgiving Turkey on Sunday, November 26, 2017 at the Virginia Tech Livestock Judging Pavilion. Tater and Tot, last year's National Thanksgiving Turkeys, are hosting an open house to welcome the two newest members of the Hokie Nation, the 2017 National Thanksgiving Turkey and its wingman. The public is invited to meet the birds. Admission is free and all are welcome. One National Thankgiving Turkey is selected at the White House each year, as well as an alternate and the two turkeys are officially pardoned. Last year, Tater and Tot were the chosen ones and were selected to live out their lives at Virginia Tech. The two that will join Tater and Tot will be named during the White House presentation on Tuesday, November 21st. The National Turkey Federation began the tradition when it gave a live bird to President Harry S. Truman. More recent presidents have added the custom of “pardoning” both the National Thanksgiving Turkey and its alternate. 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. The event not only serves as the opening of the holiday season, but also reminds America of the history and importance of agriculture, from feeding the world to growing the economy. 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/notices/cals-turkey.html or https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2017/11/cas-turkeypardon.html. |