Photo: Iowa Turkey Federation
(Des Moines, IA) -- Bird flu is forcing a change to the Governor's annual turkey pardoning event ahead of Thanksgiving. Instead of a public event, Governor Reynolds will pardon the turkeys via social media video. This year, the turkeys will not be transported to Terrace Hill.
Gretta Irwin of the Iowa Turkey Federation says the private event will be held at an Iowa Turkey farm.
This year, bird flu has been found at 23 Iowa commercial and backyard flocks, forcing the depopulation of more than 15 million chickens, turkeys and other birds.
There are about 130 turkey farms in Iowa. The state is 7th in the nation in turkey production, with about 12 million raised each year.