For the final time, President Obama will perform the presidential duty of sparing the life of a turkey. Or rather two, as the tradition goes.
Today is the 69th annual National Thanksgiving Turkey presentation, better known as the “turkey pardon.” The event has taken place just before the Thanksgiving holiday since 1947, as the chairman of the National Turkey Federation presents the president with a turkey who he’ll grace with life and dad jokes.
The American people got a chance to vote on Twitter for which of two birds will get the title of National Thanksgiving Turkey. Both Tater and Tot were born on July 18, weigh about 40 pounds, and eat meals of ground corn and soybean in pellet form.
Tater loves to snack on worms, listen to “Me Too” by Meghan Trainor, and walk “with a swagger,” according to his profile. And Tot prefers to chow on tomato slices, listen to “Can’t Stop The Feeling” by Justin Timberlake, and walk “with a relaxed saunter.”
The winner will be announced during the ceremony in the White House Rose Garden.
For the past three years, the turkeys have gone to Morven Park in Leesburg to have “a pretty nice life,” caretaker Jackie Wright told ABC. “They have a great yard. They have an enclosure that keeps them safe and warm at night,” she said.
But since housing the birds comes with a cost of about $25,000 a year, Tater and Tot will spend the rest of their days at “Gobbler’s Rest” in Blacksburg, Virginia. And they’ll be cared for by veterinarians and students from Virginia Tech.
You can watch today’s Turkey Pardon via livestream, below. It starts at 2:45 p.m.