Although the last bits of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie have cleared the shelves, the memory of Thanksgiving 2024 remains fresh for John and Kara Zimmerman and their son, Grant, of Dennison, Minnesota. This year’s celebration held special meaning for them, as Peach and Blossom—the turkeys pardoned by President Biden—were raised on the Zimmerman farm. Kara, a Minnewaska Area High School graduate, is the daughter of Marlene Hippe of Starbuck and the late Steve Hippe.

Peach and Blossom were pardoned by President Biden a few days before Thanksgiving, a tradition dating back to Abraham Lincoln, who was talked into pardoning a holiday turkey named Jack by his youngest son, Tad.

When the family learned they would raise and present the Thanksgiving turkeys, preparations began immediately. “We started a special flock in our barn—44 poults at just one day old,” Zimmerman explained. “These birds were constantly handled and exposed to various stimuli, including music, flashing lights, and people. This helped prepare them for any distractions they might encounter in D.C.  It also made them as tame and calm as possible.”

Out of the original 44 poults, the Zimmermans gradually narrowed the selection. Turkeys that weren’t “friendly” were disqualified. “We trained the turkeys by putting them on a platform to mimic the table they’d stand on during the White House ceremony,” Zimmerman said. “Those that stood still were kept; those that flew off were not.” By the final weeks, the selection process focused on visual appearance, particularly feather quality and cleanliness. “In the last week, we still had about 15 birds meeting all our criteria. From there, we got picky and chose the best two based on feathering and overall appearance.”

The honor of raising the official Thanksgiving turkeys was also a great responsibility. “The best part was involving my son, Grant, and the neighbor kids,” Zimmerman shared. “It’s been a tough year for the turkey industry, so doing something fun and lighthearted was a welcome distraction from the serious work the National Turkey Federation usually handles. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m grateful to have shared it with family and friends.”

Zimmerman credited many for the success of the project. Neighbor kids helped the turkeys adapt to new people, and fellow turkey farmers provided support. The Minnesota Corn Growers funded some costs, while Next Nest Hatchery in Willmar supplied the poults and transportation. “Peter Gruhl, the driver, has transported turkeys for this event over the years. He was a tremendous help with logistics and bird care,” Zimmerman noted.

On the day of the pardon, the turkeys underwent separate security checks at an offsite location before arriving at the White House. Zimmerman and his family went through security early in the morning and were welcomed by President Biden’s staff. “We spent time in the downstairs library before touring other rooms, many of which were off-limits due to Christmas decorating,” Zimmerman said. “Eventually, we made it to the Roosevelt Room near the Oval Office, where we waited to meet the President.”

President Biden greeted the family warmly and offered a special treat: he let Grant sit in the President’s chair in the Oval Office. Later, the President shared his challenge coin collection with Grant, exchanging coins to commemorate the occasion. “We had created a special ‘National Thanksgiving Flock’ coin for this event,” Zimmerman said.

The family then joined the President on the White House grounds, walking to “Pomp and Circumstance” for the South Lawn ceremony. For Zimmerman, this moment stood out, “Walking out with the President while the music played was truly unique. The President and White House staff were incredibly gracious, and it was refreshing to experience something so nonpartisan and celebratory.”

After the pardon, Peach and Blossom returned to Minnesota, where they now reside as agricultural ambassadors at FarmAmerica in Waseca. There, they help educate the public about food origins and the role of modern agriculture.

For the Zimmerman family, Thanksgiving 2024 will always be remembered as a year of honor, hard work, and shared joy.

–Story by Kris Goracke

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