The annual presentation of the governor’s holiday turkey by Alabama’s only commercial turkey producer, Bill Bates, and the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association took place at the Governor’s Mansion in Montgomery on Nov. 16 at 10 a.m.
      Bates’ turkeys, Clyde No. 55 and Henrietta, survived the damaging effect Hurricane Ivan left on Bates Turkey Farm, making this presentation a close one. Gov. Riley hesitated the pardoning of Clyde when he was interrupted during his opening remarks by excessive gobbling. Clyde and Henrietta accepted their pardon graciously and were thankful to be excluded from the Rileys’ Thanksgiving meal.
     Bates brought along two of his five children, Thomas Bates and Becky Bates Sloan, and one of his grandchildren, Emily Bates, to help with the presentation. Alabama’s Commissioner of Agriculture Ron Sparks was also present at the event.
     This tradition has been a part of the

governor’s holiday agenda for 57 years. Big Jim Folsom was the first Alabama governor to receive a holiday turkey from Bates in 1948.
      A special addition to the old tradition was Mrs. Riley’s promotion of her new

minster Day School, only Birmingham and the 5-year-old class from commer-Riverchase Methodist Day School, Birmingham.

campaign called, “Blankets with a Blessing.Through this campaign Mrs. Riley urged Alabamians to donate new blankets that were given to area shelters.
   N i n e t y - o n e school children came to the event bringing blankets and songs to share with the audience: The children were members of the first grade classes from Forest Avenue Elementary School, Montgomery,    South-

Alabama Poultry & Egg Association’s Youth Committee held its seventh annual fundraising barbecue at Enterprise- Ozark Community College (EOCC) on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004.
Volunteers from throughout the poultry industry gathered to cook, serve, sale and deliver barbecue chicken plates. Proceeds from this event are used to fund scholarships for students at

EOCC planning to enter the Poultry science curriculumat Auburn University Many thanks to our sponsors. Auburn Uni-versity, EOCC, Equity Group Eufaula Division, Hubbard, Pilgris Pride Corp. and Wayne Farms LLC.
AP&EAwould like to thank AP&EA Youth Committee Chairman, John Huggins of Wayne Farms; barbecue