Agriculture Comes to the Classroom With New Downloadable Presidential Turkey Video and Curriculum Free to Teachers Nationwide

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- This Thanksgiving, the Presidential Turkeys will be making their way into classrooms across the country -- albeit virtually. As part of its statewide agriculture education program, California Agriculture in the Classroom (CFAITC) today announced the availability of a new downloadable video along with classroom curriculum materials and content to help schoolchildren nationwide learn about the Presidential Turkey Pardon taking place this Thanksgiving.  

The two-minute video short chronicles the history of the Presidential Turkey Pardon and showcases birds from this year's Presidential Turkey flock, raised by Livingston, Calif.-based, family-owned poultry company, Foster Farms. The birds' growth and development in preparation for their D.C. debut is chronicled at the CFAITC website (www.learnaboutag.org) and corresponding curriculum materials -- ideal for fourth through sixth graders -- is downloadable at (www.learnaboutag.org/turkeytour).

The National Turkey is presented to the President of the United States in a tradition with the National Turkey Federation dating back to 1947. After the pardoning, a ceremony takes place which is typically held in the Rose Garden of the White House. Following the ceremony, this year's birds will retire to Mount Vernon, George Washington's historic estate, where they will live out the rest of their days.

"In today's world, so many children are so far removed from agriculture that they have no idea where their food comes from," said Judy Culbertson, executive director for California Agriculture in the Classroom. "Our goal is to bring agriculture into the classroom to give students a first-hand look at our state's rich agricultural history and the role agriculture plays in our everyday lives."  

This year, Foster Farms has the distinct honor of being invited to raise the Presidential Turkeys as a testament to the important role West Coast agriculture plays in the national landscape. It is the first time in 15 years a California turkey grower has the privilege of raising the official birds. Foster Farms has a 70 year legacy of raising wholesome, premium turkeys dating back to 1939 when Max and Verda Foster began growing turkeys in the backyard of their Waterford home in the Central Valley.

Background

The Presidential Turkey is hand-selected by National Turkey Federation Chairman (and Foster Farms VP of Turkey) Yubert Envia from a carefully hatched and grown flock of 25 tom, or male, turkeys.  The Presidential Turkey finalists and their flock are being raised on historic Wellsford Ranch in Modesto, in California's Central Valley by expert Foster Farms growers.  The Nicholas Strain birds, a breed which originated in California's Sonoma Valley, are -- upon maturity -- prized for their thick, white, smooth plumage and brightly colored heads. Prior to the finalists' official duties in Washington D.C., a select few of their brothers made the rounds to educate consumers and local schoolchildren about the Presidential Turkey Pardon and Foster Farms' longstanding commitment to raising premium turkeys.

Fresh Foster Farms turkeys are always natural and always fresh with no added steroids or hormones, and no preservatives or added saltwater.

SOURCE Foster Farms