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Where do turkeys pardoned by the president live after Thanksgiving?

The turkeys are sent to various locations after pardoned

As you prepare to put your Thanksgiving turkey in the oven... two lucky birds are off the hook! President Obama pardoned the national turkey and its alternate at the White House. Next stop? A life of rural relaxation! Aixa Diaz takes us to the Virginia farm where last year's forgiven fowl is waiting for his new friends!
As you prepare to put your Thanksgiving turkey in the oven... two lucky birds are off the hook! President Obama pardoned the national turkey and its alternate at the White House. Next stop? A life of rural relaxation! Aixa Diaz takes us to the Virginia farm where last year's forgiven fowl is waiting for his new friends!
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Where do turkeys pardoned by the president live after Thanksgiving?

The turkeys are sent to various locations after pardoned

Turkey pardoning has blossomed into an annual tradition for the President of the United States but where do the pardoned turkeys go after the event? It seems that after the sitting president bestows the honor of becoming a pardoned turkey, the TOTUS or “Turkey of the United States” is sent to live out its life at various locations, according to CNN Politics. Turkeys in the past have been sent to zoos and even George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon. In 2015, Obama’s pardoned turkey was reportedly sent to a farm in Virginia, according to CNN. The downside of being a pardoned turkey, continued CNN, is that modern turkeys are bred specifically to be eaten and not survive. Most of the turkeys pardoned by Obama have died within the year of being saved. Turkey pardoning by the president hasn’t always been an official tradition, wrote CNN. It started in 1963 with President John F. Kennedy but wasn't continued until 1989 when President George H.W. Bush picked it up once again.

Turkey pardoning has blossomed into an annual tradition for the President of the United States but where do the pardoned turkeys go after the event?

It seems that after the sitting president bestows the honor of becoming a pardoned turkey, the TOTUS or “Turkey of the United States” is sent to live out its life at various locations, according to CNN Politics.

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Turkeys in the past have been sent to zoos and even George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon.

In 2015, Obama’s pardoned turkey was reportedly sent to a farm in Virginia, according to CNN.

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The downside of being a pardoned turkey, continued CNN, is that modern turkeys are bred specifically to be eaten and not survive. Most of the turkeys pardoned by Obama have died within the year of being saved.

Turkey pardoning by the president hasn’t always been an official tradition, wrote CNN.

It started in 1963 with President John F. Kennedy but wasn't continued until 1989 when President George H.W. Bush picked it up once again.