Posted: 1:28 PM Nov 17, 2012

November 17, 2012

HARRSIONBURG, Va. (AP) - Two tom turkeys raised in Virginia's poultry belt have a date with the president.

The birds raised in Rockingham County are heading to Washington where President Barack Obama will pardon one of the toms on Wednesday. Two birds are sent to the White House in the event one falls ill during its trip to Washington from Harrisonburg.

The birds were raised by Craig and Nancy Miller just outside Harrisonburg. Craig Miller said the two toms each weighing 40 pounds were raised separately from the 43,000 hens he tends under contract with Cargill Inc.

A motorcade will leave with the two birds on Monday and they'll spend two nights in the W Hotel before the annual White House ceremony.

Craig Miller calls the honor a "once-in-a-lifetime thing."

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