Butterball, LLC Plays A Special Role in Raising the 2009 National Thanksgiving Turkey

GARNER, N.C. – November 23, 2009 – America’s largest turkey producer, Butterball, LLC, a joint venture between Maxwell Farms, LLC/Goldsboro Milling Company, Inc., and Smithfield Foods, Inc., played an important role in raising the 2009 National Thanksgiving Turkey to be presented by the National Turkey Federation for this year’s White House “Pardoning.”

On Monday, Nov. 23, Walter Pelletier, vice president of Goldsboro Milling, Company, Inc., and corporate secretary/treasurer for Butterball led a press conference at the Worley Family Farm in Princeton, N.C., to officially bid good luck to the birds that will be pardoned during this year’s White House Rose Garden Ceremony.

Supervised by Pelletier, the Worley Family Farm, growers for Goldsboro Milling, Company, Inc., cared for the special birds prior to their visit to the White House this year. Goldsboro Milling Company, Inc., supplies turkeys to Butterball, LLC.

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to carry on a tradition that represents such an important part of American life as we know it,” said Pelletier, who is serving as the 2009 NTF chairman. “Working with the Worley family has been a privilege. We selected them because of their representation of today’s American farmer that has worked together for generations to grow and contribute to the nation’s food supply.”

The turkeys were named and the turkey known as Courage will be presented during the ceremony, while the alternate, Carolina, will stand ready to assist if needed. Additionally, the turkey that is pardoned will serve as Honorary Grand Marshal for Disney’s “Thanksgiving for Giving Day” Parade. After the parade, the National Thanksgiving Turkey and his alternate will settle into their new home in Frontierland at Disneyland in Southern California.

“When you think turkeys, you think about Butterball,” said Keith Shoemaker, CEO of Butterball,LLC. “One of the things that makes us proud about our company is the care and attention that goes into raising healthy birds. The National Thanksgiving Turkey and alternate were raised in similar conditions to all of the birds that Butterball raises each year, with the added element that they’ve had close one-on-one human contact throughout their development. This contact helps prepare them for their big day in the White House Rose Garden.”

This year marks the 62nd anniversary of the time-honored tradition that dates back to President Harry S. Truman, who first pardoned turkeys in 1947. The president uses this event as the kickoff to the holiday season.

To many within the turkey industry, the annual turkey pardoning calls attention to the presence and importance of family farming within America’s heritage and framework.

About Butterball, LLC:
Butterball, LLC offers consumers opportunities to celebrate traditional holidays and every day meal occasions with the Butterball branded line of products. As the most recognized name in turkey, the brand represents over 50 years of cherished memories with consumers worldwide. The retail, deli and foodservice products are distributed throughout the United States and in over 20 countries. The tradition of providing quality great tasting products that make meals something to celebrate every day has made the brand America’s Favorite.

Headquartered in Garner, N.C., Butterball is the largest producer of turkey products in the United States. The company’s three-pronged approach to Doing Business Right focuses on self-governance, sustainability and social responsibility. The initiative plays a key role in providing internal oversight for integrating values that are important to the company.

As the industry leader in quality and food safety, the company employs numerous processes to ensure the health of flocks and implements recognized prevention measures to exceed food safety standards in its six plants, located in North Carolina, Colorado, Arkansas and Missouri. In addition, Butterball has surpassed important workplace safety and health benchmarks set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Voluntary Production Program, (VPP.)

For more information about Butterball, visit www.butterballcorp.com. You can also call 1-800 BUTTERBALL for answers to your most puzzling questions about turkey preparation.