When It’s Right, You Fight-Like 4th the Fourth Graders!!

EP McKnight
Jul 25, 2017 · 2 min read

Whenever there is a cause, somebody has to pick up the mantle or the torch and run with it by any means necessary. So impressed what happened when fourth graders saw a need and went full speed to bring about a change. As you read, we can learn a lot from the innocence and the actions of a child.

These kids set an example for all of us to follow in making this planet livable and hospitable for all. These are little shoes to walk in and yes you can do it! Californians can be thankful to these little minds for coming together like little politicians to bring about a change for the state’s nut. i

The almond,pecan, walnut and pistachio have been officially declared California state nut after Governor Brown signed the declaration into law. Yeah!! That makes it official and famous. Pretty soon they will get their print on the Hollywood walk of Fame!! LOL

I guess you are now wondering why would these four be made the official nut of California. It began with a fourth grade classroom at Margaret Sheehy Elementary School in Merced discovering that California didn’t have it’s own official nut even though prior Governor Newsom had proclaimed almonds, avocado and artichoke as the state fruit but never signed it into law. These fourth graders went into action to get a law passed. They wrote letters to their Assemblyman Gray and nominated the almond, which is a billion dollar industry in California. I can attest to this, I spend a lot of money on almonds, great protein.

A few other states have their state nut but not California. Namely, Arkansas, Texas and Missouri. Mr. Gray heard their cry and went into action on their behalf and in May the class of 25 fourth-graders went to Sacramento’s Capital to champion their issue along with a few notable supporters- mascots, Wall the Walnut, AL the Almond, Shelly the Pistachio along with the perspective lobbyists, each for their perspective nut and validating and arguing the value of their nut, just like the almond. The bill was amended to include the other nuts along with the almond. Justifiable, because the walnuts and pistachios accounts for about 99% of the nation’s supply.

Lawmakers being convinced sent the decree to the governor and the law was signed. Now we have not only one nut but four as the official nuts of California. How about that for this fourth grade class going after what they want and made it happen.

Just like the bible says, you can learn from a child, and we, especially today need to champion our cause by coming together and contacting the appropriate city officials to demand and get what we need to make our community viable for all. If fourth graders can do it, with little knowledge and experience, how much more adults. Wake up people!! We can do this!!

EP McKnight

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