St. Joseph students lobby to make the jumping jack Missouri’s state exercise
Sitting next to Rep. Pat Conway, D-St. Joseph, Jerrad Livingston, 12, testifies in favor of making jumping jacks the official state exercise. Photo by Youyou Zhou (Missouri News Horizon)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missourian’s are quick to point out that their native state is responsible for introducing the first ice cream cone and Kansas City barbecue brings in culinary devotees from across the country. But a group of elementary school students from St. Joseph want to help give the state a healthier reputation.
Students from Pershing Elementary School appeared before lawmakers in the state capitol Wednesday to present a bill that would make the jumping jack Missouri’s official state exercise.
St. Joseph Rep. Pat Conway is officially sponsoring the bill, but Pershing students were on hand at a House of Representatives Tourism and Natural Resources committee hearing to give out hand-made brochures and posters demonstrating the jumping jack’s unique place in Missouri history.
Brooklyn Jones, 11, told representatives that Missouri-born Gen. John Pershing helped make jumping jacks famous by using them to condition troops during World War I.
Meanwhile, 12-year-old Jerrad Livingston said that adopting an official state exercise could help encourage physical fitness. Missouri has the 11th highest obesity rate in the nation and almost one-third of Missouri children are obese. Maryland is the only other state in the country that currently has an official exercise, walking.
This is the second time that Conway has introduced a state exercise bill on behalf of Pershing Elementary School students. He said it’s been a great way for students not only to learn about the importance of exercise, but also how their state government works.
In addition to a new state exercise, Missouri may soon also be getting an official butterfly. Rep. Charlie Denison, D-Springfield, also presented a bill Thursday that would make the Regal Fritillary butterfly the official Lepidoptera of the Show Me State.
Buck Keagy, the Missouri butterfly enthusiast behind the bill, noted that although the Regal Fritillary exist in 28 other states, its most commonly found in Missouri which has the largest population.
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Posted by Youyou Zhou on February 9, 2012. Filed under Government, Subscribers.
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