LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pardoned a turkey Thursday ahead of Thanksgiving. The turkey was named “Aidan Cluckinson” as fans root for a Lions win on Thanksgiving as the team takes on the Chicago Bears at Ford Field.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is joining community members in pardoning a turkey for this Thanksgiving holiday. The celebration begins this afternoon and the turkey will receive Gov. Whitmer’s pardon and travel to the Saginaw Children’s Zoo.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is joining community members in pardoning a turkey for this Thanksgiving holiday.

LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer has pardoned a turkey ahead of Thanksgiving. This year the turkey was called Aidan Cluckinson, a name submitted by a young Michigander named Valentina from South Lyon. Cluckinson was chosen from nearly 4,500 submissions in Whitmer's statewide naming contest for the turkey.

Aidan Cluckinson' is the third turkey Governor Gretchen Whitmer has pardoned since taking office. Cluckinson joins the ranks of Dolly Pardon and Mitch E. Gander in the lineup of recent pardoned turkeys before Thanksgiving.

Detroit Lions star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson might not be playing football right now because of an injury, but he's still making an impact off the field. The Lions star edge rusher was recently the inspiration for the name of a pardoned turkey.

Governor Whitmer participated in the annual turkey pardoning ceremony on Thursday. Whitmer pardoned “Aiden Cluckinson” named after Lions Defensive End Aidan Hutchinson. Cluckinson is now on the way to their permanent home at the Saginaw Children's Zoo.

Governor Whitmer carries on annual turkey pardoning tradition