Proposed state symbols bills take root in Legislature

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Support for measures designating an official state grape and grass has taken root in the Missouri Legislature.

The Senate on Wednesday approved and sent to the House legislation designating the Norton/Cynthiana as the official state grape, while the House gave initial approval to a bill naming Big Bluestem as the official state grass.

The House bill requires a final House vote before moving to the Senate.

The grape legislation was considered non-controversial and received little serious Senate debate, although its sponsor, Sen. Sarah Steelman, said the issue was worth lawmakers' time.

"This is a very important grape to Missouri's economy and produces over $8 million in revenue a year," said Steelman, R-Rolla, whose district includes many wineries and grape growers. "I will say it is a very hearty, durable grape that survives Missouri's cold winters and hot summers."

Missouri has more acres of Norton grapes than of the more familiar Chardonel and Concord grapes, according to the Missouri Wine and Grape Advisory Board.

Norton grapes were sent to France in the 19th century to help that country's wine industry recover from a virus that threatened to wipe it out, Steelman said.

In the House, Rep. Bob May said Big Bluestem grass has been around for about 10,000 years and usually grows between 8 feet and 9 feet tall. Steelman is sponsoring a similar bill in the Senate.

"It's been important to the development of our prairies," said May, R-Rolla. "It was important in prehistoric times. And when the first Americans drove the prairies of our state, it was important to them for wildlife habitat. It's a very important species of grass."

May said the idea for a state grass arose while he was speaking to a group of fourth-grade students in his hometown of Rolla. The students were studying conservation, and he was scheduled to speak about government, so the idea seemed natural, he said.

Last year, the governor signed legislation making the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse the official state horse. But a bill designating Menfro soil as the official state soil never came to a final vote last year.

Missouri has 16 official state symbols, including the mule (state animal), catfish (state fish), bluebird (state bird), honeybee (state insect) and paddlefish (state aquatic animal).

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Grape bill is SB651. Grass bill is HB182.

On the Net:

Missouri Legislature: http://www.moga.state.mo.us