FORT RECOVERY, Oh. (WOWO): This years turkey to be pardoned by President Obama will be from a local farm. The 76-year-old Cooper Farms in Fort Recovery, Ohio has been chosen as the home farm for the countries most lucky turkey. Cooper Farms will hand-select two tom turkeys for the special national honor. “It was a great honor for my dad to ask me to raise the presidential turkey flock,” said Cole Cooper. “This is my heritage. It is what my grandpa started and is what I grew up with, as I watched my dad, aunt and uncle expand Cooper Farms into what it is today.”

“The Cooper family is proud to have the opportunity to be part of this time-honored tradition,” said Gary Cooper, chief operating officer of Cooper Farms and chairman of the National Turkey Federation (NTF). The presentation of the National Thanksgiving Turkey to the President is given each year to the individual serving as chairman of the NTF.

The presentation of the National Thanksgiving Turkey to the President of the United States is an annual White House tradition that occurs the week of Thanksgiving. The presentation of the National Thanksgiving Turkey began when President Harry Truman received a turkey as a gift from NTF. In 1989, President George H.W. Bush remarked that he was “pardoning” the turkey, beginning a custom followed by Presidents at the end of each presentation ceremony.

Americans are invited to submit name suggestions for the two turkeys during a national naming contest that begins November 5, 2014. Ideas may be submitted by visiting www.OhioPoultry.org/NameTheTurkey. The final decision on names for the National Thanksgiving Turkey and an alternate will be made by President Obama, his family and the White House staff.