A Wisconsin State Microbe and an Iowa State Fossil? What will they think of next?

Each of the the 50 states of the union have an official seal, official flag, and an official bird, tree, flower, and song. Some (like Iowa) have an official rock. 

Recently artist Renee Graef posted encouragement for an official microbe for her state of Wisconsin, along with her delightful illustration: “I’m for Lactococcus Lactis to be Wisconsin’s official State Microbe!

“It is integral in the making of cheese and buttermilk. Passing AB 800 is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about the cheesemaking process and microbiology.

“We like good microbes!”

Only a few states have an official state microbe.

Several have state fossils, including Wisconsin. Iowa has neither.

I know the Iowa State Legislature has more important things to do, but I’d like to see the crinoid as Iowa’s State Fossil. So would The Culture Buzz‘s John Busbee, who has collected crinoids for decades. Here’s his column from an earlier issue of Iowa History Journal.