As Michigan has picked up its own version of this American tradition in recent years, it’s brought new interest to how the annual event got its start in the U.S.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — In Michigan, the tradition of pardoning the thanksgiving turkey is only just a couple years old, after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer began pardoning turkeys named in public contests starting in 2022.
And, like at the federal level, it’s become not just a cultural staple, but an annual collection of wordplay and fowl-focused quips.
“We roll up our sleeves, tuck in our wings and get down to ‘gizzness’ to deliver for the people we serve,” Whitmer said as she pardoned 2023’s turkey, Dolly Pardon.
Alongside Dolly, names like Mitch E. Gander and Aidan Cluckinson have now joined the ranks of turkeys pardoned each year, including many at the White House for decades.
But how did we get here? When did top executives start saving feathered friends …