Turkey Growers Association donating $10K in products to foodshelves
A Thanksgiving tradition continued Tuesday afternoon at the State Capitol, with Governor Tim Walz welcoming the official 2022 Minnesota state turkey, and then a donation from the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association. President and Stearns County turkey farmer Jes Westbrock:
“Again this year we are donating ten thousand dollars’ worth of turkey products to Hunger Solutions Minnesota, who will distribute the donation to our foodshelves and food banks across the state.”
Hunger Solutions’ Colleen Moriarty says:
“Right now more than a thousand — in fact a thousand-40 — turkeys are on their way to foodshelves around the state of Minnesota because of this generous donation.”
“Welcome to the press conference that has the best possibility for a viral moment…”
…state Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen, as Governor Tim Walz prepared to welcome Minnesota’s official Thanksgiving turkey for 2022 at the State Capitol:
“We’re also joined by the turkey whisperer, who is going to present our turkey for Minnesota.”
And with that, fourth-generation grower Peyton Linn brought out Minnesota’s 2022 Thanksgiving turkey. The bird, who hasn’t been given a name, was well-behaved but is *not* being officially pardoned, but nonetheless will live at least another year on a hobby farm. The governor notes Minnesota is consistently ranked number-one in the U-S for turkey production with over 660 turkey farms statewide raising over 40 million birds. Minnesota accounts for nearly one-fifth of all turkeys produced in the U-S.
