Alabama House votes to advance state cookie legislation

0
195
Yellowhammer Cookie Photo Credit: The Art of Alabama Politics Facebook

On Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives voted to pass legislation establishing the yellowhammer cookie as the official state cookie.

House Bill 421 (HB421) is sponsored by State Representative Reed Ingram.

Reed explained that legislation making the “Yellowhammer Cookie” the official state-designated cookie was brought to him by the Fourth graders at Trinity Presbyterian School in Montgomery.

Katherine Bandy is a counselor at Trinity.

“We are learning about state symbols and Alabama history,” Bandy said. “And we figured out that Alabama doesn’t have a state cookie.”

Reed explained that the students resolved to fix this situation by holding a cookie contest. The fourth graders submitted cookies, and the seniors judged them. Ultimately the Yellowhammer Cookie was judged the best cookie to submit to the legislature.

“We needed a state cookie,” Bandy said.

Mary Claire Cook developed the winning recipe.

Alabama Today asked Cook if making the cookie was something an ordinary person could do or if it required a factory to produce.

“Anyone can make it,” Cook assured. “I make it myself.”

The Yellowhammer Cookie contains oats and pecans and has a peanut butter filling.

Bandy explained that those three ingredients are essential because they are grown here in Alabama by Alabama farmers.

The pecan is already the official nut of Alabama, and the peanut is the official legume of the state of Alabama.

Cook explained that she began this project with her grandmother. They looked up recipes and began substituting in Alabama ingredients before arriving at the Yellowhammer Cookie.

The Yellowhammer Cookie was chosen over two dozen other submissions.

The fourth graders from Trinity were on hand at the House gallery to watch the bill be debated on the Alabama House of Representatives floor.

Ingram explained that the last state symbol passed by the legislature was the decision to make the sweet potato the official state vegetable.

Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter recognized the fourth graders for their involvement in the legislative process. At Ledbetter’s request, the whole body gave them a round of applause in recognition of their work.

State Rep. A.J McCampbell told Ingram, “Usually when you have a bill, I have got to scrutinize it. The only problem I have with this bill is that you are asking us to designate this the state cookie, and I have not had one. I need a cookie. Where’s my cookie?”

Ingram said, “I think they can arrange that.”

Rep. Danny Garrett told Ingram, “One thing I have learned about you other than you are a great legislator and a great man is that you know cookies.”

Rep. Napoleon Bracy said, “I got into politics when I ran for president of the SGA.”

“Students learn Alabama history in the fourth grade,” Bracy explained.

Ingram said, “We had a big shout-out to George Washington Carver for his work with the peanut.”

Ingram explained that the Yellowhammer Cookie “is kind of like an oatmeal cookie with peanut butter in the middle.”

“Is this something that we can mass produce? Have we trademarked this?” Bracy said. “This is something they can talk about on Shark Tank.”

“This is something great for these students,” Bracy said. “It is uncontroversial. A lot of times, the first two bills on the calendar are kind of divisive.”

Rep. Mary Moore said, “I want to thank you for paying attention to young people. I appreciate you for highlighting Dr. Carver and his work.”

Speaker Ledbetter thanked former Congresswoman Martha Roby for helping the children navigate the legislative process with their bill.

HB421 was passed 103 to 0. It now goes to the Alabama Senate for their consideration.

Ingram told Alabama Today that he thinks Senator Will Barfoot will carry the bill in the Senate.

The Art of Alabama Politics Facebook page shared the recipe.

Wednesday will be day 22 of the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session.

To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.