FR family raised turkeys for president

Twenty-five years ago this week, a local family was caring for the turkeys that they would take to the White House for the annual parading ceremony.

The Nov. 27, 1996, edition of The Commercial Review featured a story about Mark and Marie Osterholt and their children Joe, Ben, Lori and Dave, who had been taking care of turkeys that would be presented to President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton for Thanksgiving.

Ten birds were being groomed for the trip, but Jim Cooper, owner of Cooper Farms and president of the National Turkey Federation, noted that only two would be taken for the trip. A couple of the birds, which were fed a special high-protein diet, were nearing the 70-pound mark as they prepared for their trip.

“We wanted to keep them growing, but not too fast,” said Carl Link, Cooper Farms general production manager in Fort Recovery.

“A lot of TLC is given to them by the Osterholt kids,” added Cooper.

Joe, Ben, Lori and Dave, ages 11, 10, 7 and 5, respectively had been caring for the 10 Tom turkeys and their corresponding hens since August. At that point, they weighed an average of 35 pounds. They were chosen as the best of the breeder turkeys from those specially bred for the hatchery.

“They are very calm,” said Marie. ‘That’s what the hens are for: To keep the males calm.”

Once two birds were chosen, they were to be groomed, cleaned and then shipped to Washington, D.C., where Cooper and his family would present them to the president. It marked the first time the turkeys for the ceremony had come from Cooper Farms.

“It’s a first all the way ’round for everyone,” Cooper said. “(Clinton) will know who the Osterholt kids are.”

“This is such an honor,” echoed Link. “The kids are just thrilled.”