Did You Know Michigan Actually Has an Official Grain?

Michigan, as most states do, has "official things!" In other words we have designated birds, flowers, fish, game and more as "official."

But now we have something else that no one else does. Did you know we actually have an official Grain? True, now the state has named an official grain of Michigan.

Seriously, and it is Manoomin, also known as Michigan wild rice. Who knew?

Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy wrote: "Manoomin, a culturally significant plant to the Anishinaabek (Odawa, Ojibwe and Potawatomi), translates to “the good berry” in Ojibwe."

And it is even more special since I said this is the first native grain designation in the United States!

And, why not. After all with so many 'things' designated as official, we need a grain thrown in there.

Do you know some of our other "official" things?
Our official bird is the Robin.

Our official Fish is the Brook Trout

Our official Flower is the Apple Blossom

Our official Stone is the Petoskey Stone

Our official Tree is the Eastern White Pine

And, there are many more "official things."

There is great history behind our wild rice. It was once abundant throughout our state, native to the Great Lakes and parts of Canada, according to Michigan's Department of Environment, but because of logging, dredging, climate change, pollution and many other factors, the beds have reduced down from thousands of acres to only 200 or so beds.

If you want to learn more about manoomin, CLICK HERE!