Iowa State University Welcomes National Thanksgiving Turkey at Public Open House Dec. 5

December 4, 2020
Iowa State University's mascot, Cy, is excited Iowa State is home to Corn and Cob, the 2020 National Thanksgiving Turkey and alternate. The public is invited to visit the turkeys during an open house Saturday, Dec. 5. Photo by Christopher Gannon/Iowa State University

Video and images of the turkeys and official welcome remarks are available upon request.

AMES, Iowa – The Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University is holding a public open house on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to welcome the National Thanksgiving Turkey and alternate – Corn and Cob – to their new home at Iowa State. Location and COVID-19 protocols for the event are available at: https://www.ans.iastate.edu/2020-national-thanksgiving-turkey. Face coverings will be required.

Photos and video footage of official welcome remarks and of the turkeys are available upon request by contacting Michelle Hiscocks at michhisc@iastate.edu. Remarks are available by:

  • Daniel J. Robison, dean and endowed chair of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • Gretta Irwin, executive director, Iowa Turkey Federation
  • Ron Kardel, chairman of the National Turkey Federation and the Iowa turkey producer from Walcott, Iowa, who raised the Presidential Flock
  • Dr. Dan Thomson, chair of the Department of Animal Science