A very special flock of 35 turkeys is being raised with care by a handful of Willmar, MN, high school students, in hopes that one of the turkeys will be invited to make a special journey to the White House in November to be presented as the National Thanksgiving Turkey to President Obama this year.If chosen, the turkey (and his lucky alternate) will travel to Washington DC in November along with National Turkey Federation Chairman Richard Huisinga, also from Willmar, MN, to participate in this time-honored holiday tradition at the White House.The turkeys are being raised just like any turkey flock in Minnesota. The birds eat a wholesome, nutritious mix of Minnesota-raised corn and soybeans, along with vitamins and minerals. The birds also have access to fresh water 24-7 and live in comfortable surroundings that protect them from bad weather and potential predators. The only difference with this flock is that they are provided increased interaction with people so that, if chosen, any of the birds will be prepared for his role at the White House ceremony.
The high school students who are helping to raise the turkeys are with the Willmar FFA chapter (formerly known as Future Farmers of America). Though none of them have direct experience raising turkeys, they are all excited to learn precisely what these birds need to thrive. You can read more about their experiences in our blog!
LINKS:
Learn more about raising turkeys: www.minnesotaturkey.com/raising-turkeys
Minnesota FFA Association: www.mnffa.org
