A 59-year-old Alabama Thanksgiving tradition has been replayed at the Governor’s Mansion in Montgomery.

Bill Bates from Bates House of Turkey in Greenville has been presenting a live Thanksgiving turkey named Clyde to every Alabama governor since 1949. Gov. Bob Riley received the latest Clyde Wednesday. Riley followed tradition by giving Clyde a pardon as children from three elementary schools watched.

Now that Clyde has his pardon, the turkey is headed to the State Farmers Market in Montgomery, where he will be housed through February. Then he will return to the Bates farm.