Governor pardons turkeys ahead of holiday, proclaims Nov. 24-30 as Turkey Week in Arkansas
Nov. 22, 2024
By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts:
- Tom turkey was grand champion turkey at Arkansas State Fair
- Faulkner County 4-H member Nevaeh Haile raised the turkeys
- Arkansas ranks third nationally in turkey production
(357 words)
(Newsrooms: Download photos from the event)
LITTLE ROCK — At least two lucky birds won’t be the centerpiece of a Thanksgiving feast this year. Instead, they were the center of attention Thursday as Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders pardoned “Tom and Gladys” and issued a proclamation celebrating the role of turkey production in the state’s agricultural economy.
Nevaeh Haile, 9, a member of the Mount Vernon/Enola 4-H Club in Faulkner County, raised the turkeys at her parents Ruth and Stephen Haile’s hobby farm. The male turkey, an 18-month-old Black Spanish gobbler, won grand champion at the Arkansas State Fair earlier this year.
“We’re proud to continue this tradition,” Sanders told a crowd of more than 100 people gathered on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion. “Nevaeh, I know you’ve done a great job. We’re excited to pardon Tom and Gladys, and we’re excited to be here to welcome you.”
Nevaeh was exhilarated to visit the Governor’s Mansion for the first time. She said she loves raising turkeys – along with the cows, goats, rabbits, chickens and dogs on the farm – and hopes to be a veterinarian one day. She kept a firm hold on Tom while posing for photos with the governor and representatives from Arkansas 4-H, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Future Farmers of America, Poultry Federation and business and industry leaders.
Sanders, Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward and Poultry Federation president Marvin Childers praised the state’s turkey industry for its contributions to Arkansas’ economy.
Arkansas ranks third in the nation in turkey production, producing 27 million turkeys a year and adding $510 million to the economy, Childers said.
Arkansas’ poultry industry — including turkeys, broilers and eggs — leads the state’s agricultural sector with cash receipts of $6.7 billion. Cargill and Butterball, two of the country’s largest turkey producers, have facilities in Springdale, Huntsville, Jonesboro and Ozark. Every whole Butterball turkey sold in the United States during the holidays is processed in Arkansas, Childers said.
The governor also praised Cargill for donating 150,000 lbs. of turkey to food banks.
“Because of their generous contribution, a lot of Arkansas families will be able to enjoy and celebrate this special day of Thanksgiving,” she said.
To learn about opportunities with Arkansas 4-H, visit https://4h.uada.edu, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent, or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media Contact:
Tracy Courage
tcourage@uada.edu
501-658-2044