The two birds will receive a sendoff from Gov. Mark Dayton and Sen. Amy Klobuchar in Willmar before they depart for Washington D.C.

Two lucky birds get the presidential pardon.

Start early, that's the motto of Minnesota Turkey hunters. The Star Tribune is reporting that hunters registered 1,249 birds after the first two days of the season, compared with 1,000 last year.

Antibiotic-resistant germs, arsenic-laced feed, and salmonella recalls all beset the turkey-growing industry in 2011. As Americans sit down with their favorite Thanksgiving fowl, it might be worth considering what went into to getting the bird to your table.

Fire departments from four communities battled the blaze in West Concord for four hours early Friday. Nobody was injured, but the Jennie-O turkey company suffered damages to two buildings and an estimated financial loss of $250,000.