This years Pardon recipients, Flyer, and his alternate, Fryer were hand chosen by Briggs, Chairman of the National Turkey Federation, from a small pool of turkey candidates from Monett, Missouri. Raised by Lynn Nutt, the turkeys chosen are regular, commercial turkeys, used in normal production, raised the same as commercial birds. About 30 birds were selected and then raised separately, periodically being hand-fed and given additional human interaction to acclimate them to crowds.

The ceremony, which took place in the Rose Garden of the White House, was the 59th of its kind. President Harry S. Truman began the tradition of declaring a National Thanksgiving Turkey in 1947.

Flyer received an official welcome to the White House from Barney, President Bush's dog, who chased him around the Rose Garden before the ceremony. The President was quick to calm Flyer's nerves with the official pardon.

After the presentation, the Briggs family, the Nutt family and Flyer and Fryer were flown first class to the Disneyland Resort in California where they acted as honorary grand marshals in "Disney's Thanksgiving Day Parade" as part of the "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration.

For more information about this release or Willow Brook Foods, contact Tom Collins at 417-862-3612.