President George Bush officially pardoned the 2008 White House turkey, Pumpkin, and the alternate, Pecan, in a Rose Garden ceremony on November 26. The turkeys were raised by West Liberty Foods turkey grower and board member, Nathan Hill and his family. Nathan's father, Paul Hill, is the Chairman of the National Turkey Federation, and therefore, was appointed to present the turkey to the President. Paul is also the Chairman of West Liberty Foods, L.L.C. Pumpkin was the sixth bird from the state of Iowa to get a Presidential pardon since the Thanksgiving tradition started 61 years ago. Following the White House pardoning, the turkeys reigned as grand marshals of Disneyland's Thanksgiving Day Parade and will live out the rest of their days at Big Thunder Ranch in Frontierland.
