Gov. Reynolds pardons 2 turkeys for Thanksgiving

DES MOINES - Gov. Kim Reynolds continued a long-standing Thanksgiving tradition Tuesday morning by pardoning two turkeys at Terrace Hill in Des Moines.

'I proudly proclaim Henry and Washington a symbol of Iowa's great turkey industry,” Gov. Reynolds said at the pardoning. 'They are free to roam this Thanksgiving Day.”

Henry and Washington are tom turkeys from Wayland. Iowa Turkey Federation President and farmer Russ Yoder said the turkeys were named for the counties in which he lives and raises turkeys.

'Over 80 years ago, my grandfather, Ivan Yoder, began raising turkeys, operating a turkey hatchery and a feed mill,” Yoder said. 'He, along with my father, uncles, aunts and neighboring turkey farmers helped grow the turkey industry in this area.”

Iowa ranks seventh in the United States for turkey production. Iowa turkey farmers care for more than 12 million turkeys each year.