In June 1923, W.C. Bates received nine turkey eggs as a wedding gift from his aunt. Almost nine decades later, Bates Turkey Farm still raises free-range turkeys and markets its products – whole turkeys, turkey breasts, turkey jerky, turkey sausage and more – online and through its catalog. Just down the road, Bates House of Turkey serves everything from turkey sandwiches to turkey soup and turkey casserole. Each year at Thanksgiving, in a tradition that dates back nearly 65 years, the governor of Alabama pardons a turkey (always named Clyde) from the Bates farm.