Colorado Governor Pardons Turkeys Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid

Annual Colorado Turkey Pardon

• 🦃 Colorado's annual turkey pardon ceremony officially welcomes the Thanksgiving season, despite the lack of snow.
• 💡 Governor Polis emphasized the importance of ensuring low-income Coloradans receive SNAP nutrition benefits and that over $5 million was distributed to food banks.

Honoring Service and Agriculture

• 🎖️ The event recognized 10 Gold Star families, honoring their sacrifices and remembering those lost.
• 👨‍🌾 The Governor highlighted Colorado's agricultural producers, responsible for staple Thanksgiving foods like potatoes, corn, and eggs, encouraging families to learn about local ingredients.
• 🏞️ Two turkeys, named Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, were pardoned and will live at Loving Arms Animal Sanctuary.

The Pardoned Turkeys

• 🌟 The names Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were chosen via an online contest, with "Sundance" also nodding to Colorado's bid to host the Sundance Film Festival.
• 🏡 Jodar Farms in Fort Collins provided the turkeys, known for their local and high-quality products.
• 🤝 Loving Arms Animal Sanctuary in Erie will provide a safe haven for the turkeys for the remainder of their lives.

Official Proclamation and Thanksgiving Wishes

• 📜 Governor Polis read the official proclamation, pardoning Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, recognizing the significant contribution of Colorado's agricultural sector.
• 🙏 The proclamation acknowledged the farmers and ranchers as stewards of the land and extended compassion to those in need.
• 🇺🇸 The Governor concluded by extending warm Thanksgiving wishes to all Coloradans, Gold Star families, and the nation, blessing Colorado and the USA.