Meet Chocolate & Chip

From Farmhouse to White House

The 2022 Presidential Flock was raised under the supervision of 2022 NTF Chairman Ronnie Parker. Parker is a 44-year veteran of the turkey industry and serves as General Manager of Circle S Ranch. Chocolate and Chip were raised in Monroe, North Carolina, by Parker.

After much anticipation Chocolate and Chip were selected from the flock as the Presidential Turkeys and journeyed to Washington, D.C., for an official visit to the nation’s capital. While in Washington, D.C., the turkeys stayed at the historic Willard InterContinental, adjacent to the White House grounds. They thoroughly enjoyed their stay as the guests of honor. The Presidential Turkeys were introduced to the public during a special media event at the hotel.

On November 21, Parker presented the National Thanksgiving Turkey named “Chocolate” to President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. during the 2022 National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation in the White House Rose Garden. As part of this longstanding tradition, “Chocolate” and his alternate, “Chip,” received a formal pardon from the president, and the turkeys now reside at the Talley Turkey Education Unit at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Chocolate & Chip in Retirement

The Talley Turkey Education Unit at North Carolina State University is now where Chocolate and Chip spend their days. The Presidential Turkeys remain under the experienced care of veterinarians, faculty and students within the Prestage Department of Poultry Science. These special turkeys will help highlight the university’s teaching, research and outreach programs in animal and poultry sciences and veterinary medicine.

The turkeys’ presence at NC State helps to further promote the importance of modern animal agriculture, the role our land-grant research universities play in developing techniques to help feed a hungry world and the historic observance of Thanksgiving traditions.