Branstad pardons turkeys Mildred and Marty

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Two Iowa turkeys dubbed Mildred and Marty have a new home after receiving the annual Thanksgiving pardon.

Gov. Terry Branstad pardoned the turkeys on Monday at a ceremony at Terrace Hill.

Cal Halstead of the Iowa Turkey Federations says the 16-week-old turkeys were raised at Circle Hill Farms in Ellsworth. He says Mildred and Marty - one of about 10.5 million Iowa turkeys raised each year - were never destined for the Thanksgiving table. Halstead says had they not been rescued, they likely would have been made into cold cuts for sandwiches.

Branstad's 2-year-old granddaughter, Bridget, asked that the turkeys be invited into the governor's mansion for lunch. Instead, they were taken to their new home at Living History Farms in Urbandale.