Thanksgiving
What will happen to Peach and Blossom, the turkeys pardoned by Joe Biden?
The fate of Peach and Blossom, the two turkeys that will be pardoned this year by President Joe Biden.
Not one but two turkeys will be pardoned this year by President Joe Biden. But what will happen to Peach and Blossom, the beautiful birds that will be spared this year. The two birds, weighing in at 40 and 41 pounds, hail from Minnesota, where they were raised by the chairmen of the National Turkey Federation.
The orgins of the tradition
The tradition which can be traced back decades, if not at least a century, has complicated origins. Though Abraham Lincoln is often pointed to as the start of the tradition, it did not become formalized until much later. The turkey pardoning ceremony as we know it today really began under President George HW Bush in 1989, according to the White House Historical Association.
“But let me assure you, and this fine tom turkey, that he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table, not this guy -- he’s granted a Presidential pardon as of right now -- and allow him to live out his days on a children’s farm not far from here.”
The fate of Peach and Blossom
Turkey is one of the focal points of many Thanksgiving dinners, and the tradition pays homage to the unlucky birds stuck at the center of millions of tables across the country.
However, the practice of sending birds gifted to the White House to family farms and zoos began during the Nixon administration, and was continued by First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Peach and Blossom will meet the same happy ending, spending the rest of their days on a farm protected from the sharp edge of the butcher’s knife.
The remarks made by presidents during the event aim to shine light on family farms that help to feed the country. Last year, President Biden thanked these farms and touted his own record investing in these businesses to ensure that their children can continue to operate should they so choose. “Because of the investments we’re making, we’re restoring hope and opportunity so family farms can stay in the family and children don’t have to leave home if they wish to stay and make a living on the farm,” said President Biden.