Gov. Whitmer Just Gave Us the Most Michigan Turkey Pardon Ever

If you thought Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had peaked with last year’s turkey pardon, she proved us all wrong this week.

Instead of pardoning a single bird like usual, she went full holiday overachiever and pardoned two turkeys from Michigan’s dinner tables this year.

Tuesday afternoon on the Capitol lawn, where everyone huddled under a tent while a snowy, slushy winter mix rolled in, which is a very “Michigan Thanksgiving” vibe if there ever was one. Whitmer leaned right into the goofy energy too, greeting everyone with her now-traditional Michigander turkey puns and sprinkling in some quick highlights from the year before getting to the stars of the show.

These sisters came with a pair of names that Michiganders will instantly love: Faygo and Vernors.

And honestly, what stars they were. Faygo and Vernors won their names through a statewide contest that pulled in more than 1,500 submissions and thousands of votes. The people have spoken… and apparently the people crave carbonated poultry that comes in fun flavors.

These two are turkeys number four and five in Whitmer’s growing collection of pardoned birds since she took office.

She kicked things off in 2022 with Mitch E. Gander, followed by Dolly Pardon in 2023 (still iconic), and then Aiden Cluckinson in 2024. It has very quickly become one of those quirky Michigan traditions that make the holidays feel a little lighter, a little sillier, and a whole lot more “us.”

And because this annual naming contest is clearly where Michiganders thrive creatively, here are a few punny suggestions I came up with that the governor can borrow for next year:

• Mackin-HEN
• Hen-minem
• Kid Flock
• Wolver-hen
• Sparty McTurkey
• Pure Michi-Gobble
• “Go”bble Blue
• Aretha Plank-lin

If this trend continues (and let’s be honest, it absolutely should) next year’s name pool is already stacked. Until then, congrats to Faygo and Vernors on their well-earned escape from the Thanksgiving table. Enjoy retirement, girls.