According to the White House account of the 2002 pardon , President Lincoln's son kept a turkey, Tad, as a pet. This bird had been saved because Lincoln responded to his son's pleas. However the presidential tradition of doing so on National Thanksgiving Day dates only to 1947 when Harry Truman inaugurated the annual pardon .
Which farm provided the bird is not indicated by the White House but thanks were given to the turkey growers' trade association, so it they must choose some member to supply it . It ends up at Kidwell Farm, at Frying Pan Park (!),Herndon, Virginia. They take the bird every year. This is a 'petting farm'.
[This message was edited by FredPuli on 11-28-03 at 02:22 AM.]
