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Gov. Tim Walz is back to carrying out traditions of the governor’s office after coming up short in the presidential race, presiding over a ritual Thanksgiving-week celebration of Minnesota’s place as a leader in turkey production. 

“This is a week that we do boast a little bit. We boast about our ag industry,” Walz said behind a podium in the governor’s reception room at the Capitol. “We’re the nation’s leading producer.” 

The historically light event did have a heavier backdrop. Walz and his agriculture advisers weighed in on possible tariffs coming from the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who said this week he’d impose 25 percent import tariffs on goods from Canada, China and Mexico.

“It’s important that we both have domestic and international partnerships,” Walz said. “We’ll watch those moves closely.”

Trump has threatened the across-the-board tariff on all goods unless the countries controlled the flow of illegal drugs and illegal migrants across the border.

“Our main partners are always Mexico and Canada,” Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said about the state’s turkey production. “Seventy four percent of our exports go to Mexico.”

Petersen said the federal United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is up for review in 2026, so negotiations will begin next year. He stressed the importance of agricultural trade missions he’s accompanied the governor on. 

“Trade is a lot about relationships,” Petersen said. “We’re going to be active and engaged in those conversations … but we have to partner with the federal government if they have a trade agreement.”

Following the press conference, Hutchison Minnesota High school senior Paisley VonBerge hoisted her near 42-pound turkey, named Tom, onto a table. The regional FFA chapter president looked prideful as photographers surrounded the bird as the giant bird stood on the table.

Walz said there’s a difference between the Minnesota-raised turkeys pardoned by President Joe Biden earlier this week and this one.

“This turkey is not pardoned from its fate,” Walz said.

The turkey will go on to be processed and eaten by the VonBerge family.

“After today, this turkey will go back to my farm to be enjoyed the way turkeys were intended to be enjoyed,” VonBerge said. 

Walz is back to full concentration on Minnesota issues after months on the road as the vice presidential nominee under Kamala Harris, the current Democratic vice president who ran unsuccessfully against Trump in the November election.

Walz was asked if he regretted taking the plunge on the national stage.

“I regret few things in life, other than I didn’t get a dog sooner. That’s my biggest regret. But no, I’m proud to have to been part of that. I think we put a message out that, well, 75 million Americans liked but not quite enough,” Walz said, trying to turn to the positives of his three-month campaign. 

“I was just glad to be out there, and to be honest, glad to tell the Minnesota story that we get things done together,” Walz said. “And we’re pretty hopeful people.”

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DFL Gov. Tim Walz continued the tradition of celebrating Minnesota’s nation-leading position when it comes to turkey production. He also addressed preliminary concerns of tariffs promised by President-elect Donald Trump.

Ben Hovland | MPR News

A large white turkey walks past a line of children

Walz, agriculture leaders celebrate Minnesota turkey production, show concern over tariffs

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