The Wisconsin State Bacterium and Other Blizzardy Thoughts

While the blizzard seems to be occupying most Wisconsinites, it is clear that weightier issues command our attention:

Wisconsin experiments with the idea of a state bacterium

The state assembly is considering a bill currently that would name the bacterium that converts milk into cheese as -- ready for it? -- the official state microbe.  The microbe, Lactococcus lactis, is poised to join the state’s list of 21 designated symbols, which includes an official dance (the polka), beverage (milk) and domesticated animal (the Holstein dairy cow).

Which got me to thinking, how well do I relate to other Wisconsin Symbols?

• I do just fine with the state flag, state motto (Forward), state song (On Wisconsin), and the State Coat of Arms, which is found on the state flag.
• State Flower -wood violet.  Ambivalent. It really does nothing for me. The green leaves and purple petals can be seen around our house in the spring and early summer but frankly I prefer peonies.
• State Bird - robin. Talk about common, it might as well be the sparrow. I would prefer any of the numerous birds of prey that we almost wiped out with DDT fifty years ago. No matter how many hawks or eagles I see, each one is a new adventure. Or how about the turkey vulture?
• State tree- Sugar maple. More commonality. Anyway, we are wiping them out along our roadways as they do not stand up to winter salting. I much prefer the elm. There are still a few around the state that were not devastated by that nasty Dutch insect and the microbes it spread.
• State fish - Muskellunge. Well, no one can improve on that, though a good case can be made for the hearty carp which serves as a reminder that we should not mess with mother nature.
• State animal - badger. Frankly, the bear or the wolf makes a better statement but then again our ancestors were not thinking of mascots for a football team when they selected the nasty rodent. (OK, technically it is not a rodent; even better, it is a weasel.)
• State Wildlife animal - white-tailed deer. You can never have too many animals as state symbols. This one is appropriate since it keeps the DNR in the news and the DNR can never have too much news.
• State Symbol of Peace - Mourning Dove. Yes. No animal should be a state symbol unless we can hunt it.
• State Insect - Honey Bee. Yes.
• State dog. American Water Spaniel. Really, this was the favorite dog of Wisconsinites? Do you know anyone who owns a Water Spaniel? Everyone around here has Labs, Golden Retrievers, or rescued Greyhounds. At least we do not hunt Water Spaniels.
• State beverage - milk. Duh. Well my beverage is neither milk, or the even more obvious, beer. It is Crystal Light. Raspberry Ice. Refreshing, no calories, goes with anything and reduces the chance of kidney stones.
• State Grain - Corn. Yes. No argument here. Nothing like fresh corn on the cob and a cold glass of Crystal Light.
• State Dance - Polka. Anyone I have not yet antagonized should know that the Polka just does not cut it except at football games.

Comments

[Jesse the K]

I'm shocked, shocked, that you didn't touch on Antigo Silt Loam, the official Wisconsin State Soil, championed by Prof Francis Hole (of blessed memory).

On the soil:
http://www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/soil/antigo.html

On the champion:
http://www.soils.wisc.edu/~barak/fdh/

[Barry Orton]

Crystal Light, while a Kraft product, and Kraft still owns Oscar Mayer, has no other Wisconsin connection. If you insist on a better and healthier alternate to beer and milk, why not apple cider? I'm a fan of local, unpasteurized cider, great cold or hot. I buy in season, and freeze some for later in the winter and next spring.

[Glenn Loos-Austin]

Well, I don't know about anything else, but the turkey vulture gets my vote for state bird.

[nonheroicvet]

We could do better than the Badger. Badgers are the Dick Cheneys of the animal kingdom. They are nasty, sneakey vermin who will come on your property and dig great holes making a big mess for someone else to clean up.

Also, a good Bohemian wedding dance will make you a polka fan for life.

[anon]

Why isn't the cranberry the state fruit? And how about a state vegetable?

[Oliver Steinberg]

You've got a state rock or something, as well as a state mineral (Galena); and as the total mentioned earlier was 21 symbols, there must be several more. I think the Antigo Silt Loam is very deserving of State Soil status; it was Francis Hole's favorite, wasn't it? And there's got to be a state cheese, wouldn't you think?

It is a lot easier for legislators to pass silly things like new state symbols than to tackle the truly tough problems which a state government ought to be trying to resolve.

[The Sconz]

You missed one – the official state mineral: Galena, a lead ore that the original "badgers" (lead miners) used to dig up.

[bobbie]

The state dog -- American Water Spaniel -- which I own (although Beau was born in Minnesota) is one of the few true North American breeds -- developed in Wisconsin in the Fox Valley. These little brown retrievers were used by market hunters in the 1800's and accepted as a breed by the AKC I believe in the 1940's.

[Tracy]

I'm rather fond of the state fossil, the ammonite. Just knowing that we have one is a great way to show off at parties.

I can't agree with you on the badger, however. They are tough critters, and anything that eats ground squirrels is okay in my book.

[Paul]

stay tuned gang. I don't know about the state mineral and the state fossil but we will do a post next week on the state soil and the most wonderful man I ever met, Professor Hole (and his wife Agnes).

[Katrina]

The state fossil is the trilobite. The state rock is red granite.

[Ty O'Mara]

Like nonheroicvet, I take umbrage(if it is still a word)at your dismissal of the Polka. The Polka is not cool, not chic, not sophisticated, not intellectual, but after four or five beers at a crazy Polish wedding it is the most fun you can have with a woman and centrifugal force. It is just fun, fun, fun. I've only polkaed a couple times, but I like it and it is a perfect fit for Wisconsin. What do you want.... the Minuet? A Waltz? The Frug? Admit it, the Polka is the perfect state dance. However, when I learned that CHEESE PUFFS were the official state snack food, I was very disappointed. It should be potato chips with french onion dip(french onion dip to honor Father Marquette), and, of course a nice cold glass of Crystal Light.