(Des Moines, IA) -- Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds took part in the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardoning today (Tuesday) at Terrace Hill in Des Moines. The turkeys are named "Caitlin" and "Clark" in a nod to former Iowa Hawkeye women's basketball star Caitlin Clark.
Iowa ranks 7th in U-S turkey production, producing about 12 million turkeys annually. Iowa ranks 6th in turkey processing. The industry employs 38-thousand people.
The turkeys were raised at the Moline Farm in Manson, Iowa. They'll now live out their days at a noncommercial farm in Monticello, IA.
“This Thanksgiving tradition is an opportunity to recognize the skill and dedication of Iowa turkey producers like the Molines, the fifth-generation farm family celebrating its 100th year, who contributed this year’s lucky birds,” Gov. Reynolds said. “It was a pleasure to join them in pardoning Caitlin and Clark."