The Minnesota turkey industry again will have representation at the White House in mid-November as two birds raised in Douglas County, Minn,. will be chosen for the 70th annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation.

Accompanying the turkeys will be five Douglas County 4-H members who are helping care for them, along with turkey producers Carl and Sharlene Wittenburg of Alexandria, Minn. The Wittenburgs grew up with turkey production on family farms — Carl in North Dakota and Sharlene near Roseau, Minn. Carl also is chairman of the National Turkey Federation.

TEAM EFFORT: First the team worked on a project for the Minnesota Science in Ag competition. Next, they helped prepare the 2017 presidential flock for the annual turkey presentation in Washington, D.C., in November. Working together are (around the table, from left) Kayla Egenes, Katie Kent, Kerryn Lund, Christina Kuismi and Kodi Bundermann. (Photo by Lara Durben, Minnesota Turkeys Growers Association)

Presidental pardon a tradition
The official White House invitation is expected to arrive in late October. The presidential pardon is given during a ceremony shortly before Thanksgiving.

The turkey presentation ceremony dates back to 1947, with presidents occasionally sparing birds presented to them by the National Turkey Federation. Since 1989, it has been an annual tradition for the president to "pardon" the turkey.

The presidential flock of 80 turkeys raised on Wittenburgs’ Alexandria farm — 40 white and 40 brown — was been whittled down to 34 birds as of mid-September. The couple also raises 100,000 turkeys annually on their family farm in Wyndmere, N.D.

HOST FARM: Sharlene and Carl Wittenburg opened up their Alexandria, Minn., farm to Douglas County 4-H'ers to work with turkeys for the 4-H Science in Ag competition, and to raise turkeys for the 70th annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation in Washington, D.C., in mid-November.

Farmers work with 4-H'ers
The Wittenburgs had been working with the 4-H students since July 2016, first on a Minnesota 4-H Science of Ag project that evaluated five types of turkey bedding. The opportunity to continue to work together in raising the presidential flock was a natural progression for all.

Since the chicks arrived on the farm June 29, Kodi Bundermann of Alexandria, Kayla Egenes of Alexandria, Katie Kent of Alexandria, Christina Kuismi of Evansville, Minn., and Kerryn Lund of Brandon, Minn., have been working with the turkeys to prepare them for their national debut.

“We’re getting them used to people, to noises, to being held and touched,” Egenes says. Adds Kent: “We’re helping them become more sociable.”

As they juggle high school and various activities, the 4-H'ers take turns visiting the flock throughout the week. None of them had prior exposure to turkey production, so this experience has been an eye-opener. At first, a couple of them were skeptical or a tad scared about handling the birds. However, they soon gained confidence as they developed their poultry care skills. As they became more comfortable around the turkeys, the students began to notice and appreciate the birds’ unique characters.

“Their personalities are really cool,” Bundermann says. “Some let you pet them, and they’ll lay down beside you.”

Adds Egenes: “They love to peck at shoes and shiny things, too. They are really curious.”

Turkey 'finalists' will have best personality, looks
As the November trip draws closer, turkeys that have the best temperament and appearance will be selected as potential candidates for the White House visit. By mid-November, two will be chosen to go.

All five 4-H'ers, along with the Wittenburgs, will make the three-day trip to Washington, D.C. By then, the turkeys will be 21 weeks old and in prime condition to help promote America’s Thanksgiving holiday.

This will be the 13th time that a Minnesota turkey has traveled to the White House for the presidential presentation. Additional trips took place in 1949, 1960, 1970, 1977, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2011 and 2013.