Faygo, Vernors Won't Be Eaten On Thanksgiving

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 11/18/2025) For the fourth time in her tenure, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer used her power of pardon on Tuesday to spare the lives of two turkeys from the butcher's knife nine days before Thanksgiving.

The sister birds came from Maybury Farms in Northville and will be headed to Macomb County to live out their natural lives. According to Diana Wallace of the Northville Community Foundation, the three siblings of “Faygo” and “Vernors” will be processed tomorrow.

The birds' names came as part of a naming contest the Governor's office cooked up that featured eight sets of names selected from a pool of 1,500 submissions that also included: Sonic & Knuckles, Dan Cluckbell & Jared Gobblegoff, Bilbo Gogglins & the Lord of the Wings, Elphowlba & Glinduck, Sparty & Blue, Cass Aroll & Anita Salad, and Beans & Greens.

Around 100 folks, mostly executive staff and a few kids huddled under a tent in front of the Capitol with Tim Boring (Director - Agriculture and Rural Development) and Rep. Emily Dievendorf (D-Lansing) as hail pattered against the tent while Whitmer strung together some Thanksgiving puns.

“All year long, we lived our ‘base’ lives and got things done because we believe in ‘baking’ the world a better place,” she said.

The Governor left the tent immediately after the event without taking questions from reporters.