Many Minnesotans are familiar with our state bird, the loon, and state flower, the lady slipper. But did you know that milk is Minnesota’s state drink? Here’s how.
Transcript
INTRO: Welcome to MN90: Minnesota History in 90 Seconds.
NARRATOR: Many Minnesotans are familiar with our state bird, the loon, and state flower, the lady slipper. But did you know Minnesota has a state drink? Our state drink is not beer.
[SFX: Beer bottle opening]
NARRATOR: It's not soda – or what us Minnesotans call pop.
[SFX: pop can opening]
NARRATOR: Our state drink is "udderly" home-grown.
[SFX: Moo sounds]
NARRATOR: Milk, it does a body good, and Minnesota produces over 9 billion pounds of it a year. Holy Cow!
[SFX: Moo sounds]
NARRATOR: KD: In 1984, then MN governor Rudy Perpich officially signed into law, Milk as the official state drink of Minnesota.
[SFX: Gavel hammering]
NARRATOR: But what led to Milk being designated our state drink? Minnesota State Representative Rick Krueger, who sponsored the bill, said milk was chosen to bring awareness to dairy products in our state and promote the American Dairy Association. National Milk Day is January 11th, where Minnesotans can celebrate the billion dollars made in our state from milk sales. That’s a lot of moo-lah! So, raise your glass of milk, and cheers to our state drink.
OUTRO: MN90 is produced by AMPERS, diverse radio for Minnesota's communities, made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Online at mn90.org.