Rowdy turkey steals the show at annual North Dakota pardon

North Dakota kept a lighthearted tradition alive this week as Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden granted a full pardon to Ruben, a 40-pound turkey who seemed determined to narrate the ceremony himself. The annual event isn’t just pageantry — it highlights the state’s agricultural backbone and supports local charities with a sizable donation of turkeys. With food insecurity heightened after the recent SNAP disruption, the gesture lands at a meaningful moment for the organizations feeding hundreds each day.

Grant Coursey

Bismarck Tribune

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