Governor Stein Pardons Two Turkeys, Lord Stanley and Lady Stanley, at the North Carolina Governor’s Residence
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein held the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardoning at the Governor's Residence in Raleigh on November 12, 2026, sparing two turkeys named Lord Stanley and Lady Stanley. Instead of the Thanksgiving table, the birds will live out their days at Harrells Christian Academy in Sampson County, cared for by the school's FFA students.
The turkeys were provided by Circle S Ranch in Union County and are about 20 weeks old, the tom weighing about 45 pounds and the hen about 30 pounds. At the ceremony, Butterball announced a donation of 500 whole turkeys to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina for holiday food assistance; the food bank's CEO, Amy Beros, attended to accept the gift.
Art Lankford, president of the state poultry federation and a Butterball operations vice president, joined the event. According to the Governor's Office, poultry is a pillar of North Carolina agriculture, generating about $44.9 billion in annual economic impact and supporting more than 140,000 jobs. Pumpkins for the ceremony were donated by Cinderella Farms in Duplin County.
Stein thanked farmers and food bank volunteers and encouraged residents to support local farm products and food assistance during the holidays. Turkey pardonings are an annual tradition at governors' residences across the United States, usually held in the two weeks before Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving falls on November 26 this year. The North Carolina ceremony has become a fixture at the Governor's Residence, where students watch the turkeys up close and the event doubles as a showcase for the state's farm sector.
Source: Office of the Governor of North Carolina
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图片来源：北卡罗来纳州州长办公室官方照片，图中为州长官邸赦免仪式上的两只火鸡与到场学生 Image: official photo, Office of the Governor of North Carolina; showing the two pardoned turkeys and students at the Governor’s Residence ceremony
