Pickleball, a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, has been gaining popularity in recent years. It's a game that's easy to learn but difficult to master, making it accessible to players of all ages and skill levels. In Washington, Pickleball has become more than just a game; it's a community that's bringing people together and promoting physical fitness and mental wellness.
Thanks to the efforts of students from Pleasantdale Middle School in Burr Ridge and Maplebrook Elementary School in Naperville, Illinois designated dolostone as the official state rock on June 6th, 2022 when Governor J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 4261 into law.
Thanks to the efforts of Tara Happy and her third grade class at Hollis Primary School, New Hampshire adopted the daring jumping spider (Phidippus audax) as the official state spider in June, 2021. The class created a project out of researching, choosing, and lobbying the New Hampshire government to adopt a state spider. Students researched various spiders before deciding on the daring jumping spider.
As delicious as the turnip is, not many turnips have been lucky enough to enter into the annals of human culture—after all, how many different turnips can you name?
The exception to this obscure turnip tale is the Gilfeather turnip, the state vegetable of Vermont. The Gilfeather turnip is both tasty and nutritious, being a delicious addition to various recipes and promoting healthy bodily functions like blood circulation.
In March 2019, the Red-tailed Hawk became the official state raptor of New Hampshire. Besides Idaho, the state became only the second state to have a state raptor. New Hampshire already had a state bird, the Purple Finch. However, a group of eighth-graders succeeded in pushing through a bill that elected the Red-Tailed Hawk as the State Raptor.
Bluetick Coonhound dog breed has been officially announced as the state dog of Tennessee in 2019. Well, Tennessee people have always had a special place in their hearts for Bluetick Coonhound.
Smokey, a Bluetick Coonhound has been the mascot of the University of Tennessee since 1953. So, it’s no surprise for Tennessee vols. that their favorite hound is now an official state dog.
Wyoming declared the blotched tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium melanostictum) the official state amphibian in February, 2019. The tiger salamander is Wyoming's only native salamander, and notable for its adaptablility to the state's harsh environment.
In 1996 New Mexico became the only state to establish a question as an official symbol when the New Mexico State Legislature passed a House Joint Memorial declaring "Red or Green?" as the official state question. In New Mexico, when diners order a dish made with chilies, they are always asked "red or green?" The legislature wanted to recognize the importance that the chile industry has on the state economy.
The Oregon legislature designated the Oregon Swallowtail (Papilio oregonius) as Oregon’s official insect in 1979. Not only does it include "Oregon" in both its scientific and common name, it is a Northwest native. It can be found in Idaho and Washington states, as well as south-central British Columbia All State Insects
Delaware's governors have proclaimed December 7 as "Delaware Day" since 1933. All State Holidays & Events