Gov. Kay Ivey signs legislation making Yellowhammer Cookie Alabama’s official state cookie
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. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Legislature sends the Yellowhammer cookie legislation to Gov. Kay Ivey
On Wednesday, the Alabama Senate voted unanimously to make the Yellowhammer cookie the official cookie of the state of Alabama. The Yellowhammer cookie is the creation of Mary Claire Cook, a fourth-grade student at Trinity Presbyterian School in Montgomery, with some help from her grandmother. The students at Trinity were studying state symbols when they learned that Alabama did not have an official state-designated cookie, so they endeavored to create one. 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.” “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. “George Washington Carver’s work at Tuskegee Institute on peanuts is important to Alabama,” Barfoot said. Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison (D-Birmingham) said that the contest to select the state cookie should have been more “statewide.” “I think there should be some guidelines if we are going to do it,” Coleman-Madison said. “There are children who have food allergies to peanuts. I really wish we had some more participation.” “This is state law that we are passing,” Coleman-Madison continued. “When people come to the state of Alabama, this is the state cookie. We need to have some criteria. We need to have some more involvement.” 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 viewing from the gallery with her teachers Katherine Bandy and Kylie Osborne. Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth recognized Cook for her work, and she was applauded by the members of the Senate. The legislation has already passed the House of Representatives. It now goes to the Governor for her consideration. Wednesday was day 25 of the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Alabama House votes to advance state cookie legislation
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.
