Move over, Hercules! Mississippi now has Turkules. The feathered friend avoided a fowl fate when pardoned by Gov. Tate Reeves on Wednesday during the state’s annual Thanksgiving Turkey Pardon Ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion in Jackson.
The event, hosted in partnership with Extra Table and Renasant Bank, marked the fourth year of the lighthearted tradition that celebrates gratitude, community, and generosity with a charitable twist. This year’s ceremony helped raise funds to feed families across Mississippi through Extra Table’s statewide hunger relief efforts.
“Thanksgiving is a time to pause, reflect, and give thanks for the blessings in our lives,” Jerome Brown with Renasant Bank said during the ceremony. “Here in Mississippi, those blessings are found in our people, in our communities, and in the charitable spirit that defines what it’s all about being a Mississippian.”
Reeves also used the opportunity to extend his appreciation to the state’s service members, law enforcement officers, and first responders, emphasizing their role in keeping families safe during the holidays.
“We will be thinking about you, and we will be praying for you this Thanksgiving,” he said.
Turkules, whose name was chosen through a public vote on social media, drew smiles and laughter from the crowd as Reeves granted him an official pardon.
“I, Tate Reeves, governor of the great state of Mississippi, under and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of our state, do hereby grant Turkules a full, complete, and unconditional pardon,” Reeves declared.
While the turkey stole the spotlight before strutting its way to freedom, the event’s larger purpose was to fight food insecurity. Extra Table, founded by Mississippi chef and restaurateur Robert St. John, provides nutritious food to pantries across the state. A $15 donation can provide three whole chickens for Mississippi families in need, per the nonprofit.
“We’re doubling our donation this year,” Extra Table executive director Martha Allen Price said. “That means $200,000 worth of food will be shipped to 66 food pantries across Mississippi. 35,000 pounds of rice, six trucks of sweet potatoes, and 9,000 chickens.”
Those wishing to support Extra Table’s mission to feed Mississippians in need can visit their website to donate.
