(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds pardoned two turkeys from a farm in Manson today (Tuesday) named Caitlin and Clark. The turkeys strolled quietly on the grass at the Terrace Hill Governor’s mansion as the governor read the proclamation. “Now therefore I Kim Reynolds, governor of the state of Iowa, do hereby proclaim Caitlin and Clark as symbols of Iowa’s great turkey industry, they are free to roam this Thanksgiving Day, and they’ve got a lot of ground to do it on,” she says. Governor Reynolds talked about the importance of the holiday.

“I always look forward to this time of the year. It’s not only is it a time for us to really recognize our farmers and producers and all that they do to feed the world, but it’s kind of a kick off to the holiday season,” she says. She says the first recognition of turkey producers came from then Governor Robert Ray back in 1976. “Now, at that point, they didn’t pardon the turkeys. They sent them back to the farm, so I can’t say, what happens after that,” Reynolds says. “But we didn’t start pardoning the turkeys until 1989.”

Turkeys Caitlin and Clark roam the grounds of Terrace Hill. (RI photo)

The two birds came from Golden Prairie Turkeys for the second year in a row. The farm is owned by Brad and Kelly Moline. Brad is the president of the Iowa turkey producers and his daughter Ava was on hand to help with the birds. “It’s just fun because it’s a tradition that goes on for years and years, and it’s just something that we get to do for the turkeys,” she says. Ava wants to become a veterinarian, and is an Iowa State fan, but she is okay with naming the birds after the Hawkeye great. “She’s a great athlete, and I would like to be a great athlete like her. And turkeys are great for protein for athletes. So I think it was just fitting,” Moline says.

Governor Reynolds says she bought a 23-pound turkey from the farm that she will cook for her family along with a ham and all the sides for Thanksgiving.