Turkey Pardoning Ceremony, 2016
This photograph, taken by Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association on November 23, 2016, shows President Barack Obama and his nephews Austin and Aaron Robinson leaving the Rose Garden following the annual White House turkey pardoning ceremony. During the ceremony, President Obama pardoned Tot, a 39 pound turkey as well as an alternate turkey, Tater. Following the ceremony, the turkeys were transferred to 'Gobblers Rest' in Blacksburg, Virginia to be cared for by veterinarians and students of Virginia Tech's Animal and Poultry Sciences Department. Both turkeys were raised by the Domino family in Iowa, and were donated by the National Turkey Federation. For his final turkey pardoning ceremony, President Obama shared a "corny-copia" of turkey-themed puns and spoke of recent achievements Americans could be thankful for.