From Pardon to Purpose: A Turkey's Journey of Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 25, 2025 – In the crisp autumn air of the Rose Garden, another chapter of a uniquely American tradition unfolded. President Donald Trump, in the 78th iteration of the ceremony, granted a formal pardon to Gobble and Waddle, two sizable turkeys from North Carolina. The event, complete with cameras and presidential fanfare, is a familiar, lighthearted fixture of the Thanksgiving season. Yet, beyond the headline and the quirky photo opportunity lies a deeper narrative—one that connects a family farm in Kenly, North Carolina, to the halls of a major university and speaks volumes about corporate service and community impact.

A Tradition Hatched from History

The National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation is more than just a modern spectacle; it is a tradition that has evolved over more than 150 years. While the National Turkey Federation began formally presenting a turkey to President Harry Truman in 1947, the origins of presidential clemency for a holiday bird are traced to Abraham Lincoln. In 1863, Lincoln reportedly spared a Christmas turkey at the behest of his young, compassionate son, Tad.

For decades, the birds presented to the White House were destined for the dinner table. It wasn't until 1963 that President John F. Kennedy informally reprieved a turkey, quipping, “We’ll just let this one grow.” The act of a “pardon” itself became part of the lexicon under President Ronald Reagan, who used the term humorously in 1987 to deflect questions on the Iran-Contra affair. However, the annual tradition as we know it was cemented by President George H.W. Bush in 1989, who declared that the pardoned bird would retire to a children's farm, ensuring it would “not end up on anyone's dinner table.” Since then, the ceremony has become a staple, a moment of levity that also serves as a powerful platform for America’s agricultural sector.

North Carolina's Feathered Economy

Long before their stay at the historic Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, D.C., the journey for Gobble and Waddle began on New Horizon Farm in central North Carolina. Raised by Butterball contract grower Travis Pittman and his family, these turkeys represent the heart of a massive state industry. North Carolina is the second-largest turkey producing state in the nation, a powerhouse of agriculture that has a profound economic impact on its rural communities.

The Pittman family, including one-year-old son Carter, dedicated weeks to preparing the turkeys for their public debut, acclimating them to crowds and cameras. This hands-on effort from a family farm highlights the human element behind the nearly 1 billion pounds of turkey produced annually by a company like Butterball, which is headquartered in the state. Jay Jandrain, President and CEO of Butterball and this year's National Turkey Federation Chairman, captured this sentiment at the White House. "From farmers like the Pittman family who raise the birds, to the processors and everyone else who plays a part... this industry runs on people who care deeply about what they do," he stated.

This connection between the national stage and the local farm underscores the deep integration of agriculture into the state's identity and economic fabric. The selection of the turkeys from the NTF chairman’s home state brings national attention not just to a company, but to the entire ecosystem of growers, suppliers, and communities that support it.

Beyond the Barn: Welfare and Responsibility

Central to the modern agricultural narrative is the growing consumer interest in animal welfare. Gobble and Waddle, like all Butterball turkeys, are designated as American Humane Certified™. This certification signifies adherence to a set of science-based standards verified by independent, third-party auditors. The program's criteria are extensive, covering everything from environmental enrichment and specific lighting requirements to biosecurity protocols and waste management plans.

This voluntary participation in a certification program represents a significant investment in transparency and accountability. It provides a framework for ensuring that large-scale production does not come at the expense of animal wellbeing. While standards like American Humane Certified™ are a step forward, they are part of a larger, ongoing conversation about what constitutes ethical farming. For instance, the certification does not mandate outdoor access—a key feature in other welfare programs like the higher tiers of the Global Animal Partnership—highlighting the complex spectrum of practices within the industry. For companies like Butterball, committing to a program with regular audits is a foundational element of its corporate responsibility, an effort to build consumer trust from the farm gate to the dinner plate.

A New Mission in Service

For Gobble and Waddle, the presidential pardon is not an end but a transition to a new form of service. Their retirement will be spent at North Carolina State University's Prestage Department of Poultry Science in Raleigh. Here, they will become “agricultural education ambassadors,” living symbols for students and the public to learn about poultry science, animal biology, and the realities of modern farming.

Their new role is poignant, given the biological realities for commercially raised turkeys. Bred for rapid growth, these birds often face health challenges, such as joint and cardiovascular stress, that give them a much shorter lifespan than their wild counterparts. While a wild turkey can live up to a decade, a pardoned domestic turkey is fortunate to live a couple of years. Their care at NCSU will be specialized, managed by experts dedicated to their health and comfort, providing a living laboratory for veterinary and agricultural students.

This educational mission transforms the turkeys from a Thanksgiving symbol into a year-round resource, extending the impact of the White House tradition far beyond a single day in November and rooting it in the academic and agricultural heart of their home state.

The Corporate Pillar of Philanthropy

While the pardon saves two birds, the corporate infrastructure behind them is engaged in a different, large-scale mission of service. Butterball has integrated philanthropy into its core business strategy, particularly focusing on hunger relief. In 2024 alone, the company donated over half a million meals through partnerships with Feeding America and Operation BBQ Relief—a nonprofit that provides hot meals to disaster victims and the first responders who serve them.

This commitment continued this year with donations of over 13,000 Thanksgiving turkeys, a $100,000 contribution to Feeding America, and a joint $10,000 donation with the NTF to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. This strategic giving is not an afterthought; it is a pillar of the company's approach to corporate citizenship. By aligning with organizations like Feeding America, the company leverages its production capacity to address food insecurity on a national scale. The partnership with Operation BBQ Relief directly supports the very communities of service members—first responders and, by extension, veterans—that are often the focus of resilience-building initiatives.

And so, the journey of two turkeys from a North Carolina farm to the White House lawn reveals a story far richer than a simple pardon, illustrating a modern tapestry of tradition, industry responsibility, and a deep-rooted commitment to feeding the nation.