On Friday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey met with Montgomery 4th grader and recipe creator Mary Claire Cook to consider whether or not to sign legislation making Cook’s creation, the Yellowhammer Cookie, the official state cookie of the State of Alabama.
Governor Ivey taste-tested the cookie for herself and gave it the stamp of approval. Ivey added her signature on the bill to officially name the Yellowhammer Cookie the official state cookie.
Governor Ivey commented, “Sweet Home Alabama just got a little sweeter!”
House Bill 421 (HB421) is sponsored by State Representative Reed Ingram (R-Montgomery). The legislation was carried in the Alabama Senate by State Senator Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road).
“This week, you all have had the opportunity to see, and more importantly taste, the yellowhammer cookie,” Barfoot said, holding one up in the air for members to see. “This was brought to me by some fourth graders at Trinity Presbyterian School.”
Reed explained that the students learned that Alabama did not have an official state cookie, so 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.
“Twenty-four recipes were submitted,” Barfoot said. “That was narrowed down to five. Seniors from the government class at Trinity were brought in to judge the cookies, and the yellowhammer cookie was selected.”
The cookies contain peanuts, pecans, and oats – all crops grown and well-adapted to Alabama. The pecan is already the official nut of Alabama, and the peanut is the official legume of the state of Alabama.
Alabama Today asked Cook if making the cookie was something an ordinary person could do or if it required a factory to produce.
“George Washington Carver’s work at Tuskegee Institute on peanuts is important to Alabama,” Barfoot said.
Sen. David Sessions (R-Mobile) said, “It has peanuts and pecans. I raise both of them on my farm.”
The legislation passed the Senate 35 to 0.
Cook was joined at the Statehouse by her teachers Katherine Bandy and Kylie Osborne to lobby legislators. Former Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-AL02) also played an active role in these efforts.
Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth recognized Cook for her work, and she was applauded by the members of the Senate.
Tuesday will be the last day 25 of the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session.
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