Idaho State Flag Revision Passes Sub-Committee, Heading to Vote
Updated: May 20, 2019
The Idaho State Historical Committee has picked the final design to replace the Idaho State Flag. This new flag features a well known symbol to Idahoans: the Potato.
“Potatoes put Idaho on the map,” Committee Chair Ronald Spaulding said. “Most people haven’t even heard of Idaho, but they’ve heard of Idaho Potatoes. So I believe it’s about time we honor the vegetable.”
Potatoes are already mentioned on state license plates with the phrase, Famous Potatoes, featured at the bottom.
The change, which is scheduled to take effect this fall, will be met with a retirement ceremony for the existing state flag.
However, many legume farmers have been voicing their distain to the new design. With legumes being the largest Idaho export, these farmers think that the wrong vegetable is being honored.
Mike Bradley, who operates one of Idaho’s largest legume farms in Meridian says he’s tired of potatoes getting all the credit.
“I’m sick and tired of potatoes getting all the credit,“ he said. “We break our backs carrying the Idaho agriculture industry but we don’t get any of the love.”
He believes that legumes should be recognized for their contribution to Idaho’s GDP.
“We sell legumes to China. We got someone in Europe eating one of our legumes right now, probably. We even got astronauts eating our freeze dried legumes. You can’t say the same about potatoes now, can you?”
Other opponents say the flag should go in a more historical direction. Billy Huxley, of Idaho Falls thinks it should honor the Confederacy.
“I say we put the confederate flag on state flag instead of the potato,” Huxley argued. “Isn’t that what Lincoln would have wanted, anyway?”
Students at the Caldwell Middle School want to see the flag recognize the popular video game Fortnight, while others want it to honor Minecraft.
“They should make a Minecraft potato,” Nicole Verne age 9, said.
The new flag is currently up for sale and can be purchased online.
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