Gov. Doug Burgum ceremoniously commutes the sentence of becoming the main course of a Thanksgiving meal to “Lilly” as part of the annual turkey pardon at the state Capitol in Bismarck, North Dakota on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019. The annual event also benefits charity. The North Dakota Turkey Federation is donating a dozen frozen turkeys each to the Heaven’s Helpers Soup Café and the Abused Adult Resource Center. (AP Photo/James MacPherson)

BISMARCK, N.D. (Prairie Public Radio) – A tradition for Thanksgiving – the Governor pardons a turkey.

The ceremony was held today at the state Capitol in Bismarck, as Governor Burgum “pardoned” Lilly – a turkey raised by grower Dave Rude of Tolna.

Rude says Lilly is an “organic” turkey, meaning she’s only fed special organic feed – feed that he has to import from Wisconsin.

Rude says there are 9 turkey growers in North Dakota – and together they grow between one million and 1.2 million birds. And he says he does have some concerns about the growing situation going forward.

The North Dakota Turkey Growers Federation also donates a number of turkeys to charitable organizations around North Dakota, for Thanksgiving dinners.