The ice cream cone

Kids seek approval for an official state dessert

A group of home-schooled kids are just a couple steps away from having the Missouri Legislature designate the ice cream cone as the official state dessert.

Twelve-year-old Elise Kostial of Ellisville said their campaign started last fall. "We were looking for a project that would have impact on our community," she said.

Where they stand now, the two houses of the Legislature have passed versions of the proposed legislation. All that's needed is final legislative approval and the governor's signature.

Elise Kostial

To get any law enacted on the first try would be quite an accomplishment. That's especially true when the sponsors are kids of elementary and middle school age.

They may be young. But, their campaign has been very professionally done.

They researched the economic and historical merits of their proposal. They lined up veteran legislators to sponsor the bill. They built an internet website to publicize their idea. (To see site, visit http://themissouriicecreamcone.org.)

They made several trips to Jefferson City to testify before legislative committees. One of their members even debated the merits on-air with a KMOX radio talk show host.

Jacob Frost

Also, they sponsored an Ice Cream Day at the State Capitol. Over 1,300 people showed up to eat ice cream and hear their pitch. There was even a drawing for legislators with the winner getting a $40 certificate to Arris' Pizza Palace.

The Missouri Senate passed its version of the ice cream cone bill on Feb. 28, by a margin of 24-10. The House passed its bill April 2, by a margin of 105-25.

The kids feel they have both economics and history on their side.

Thirteen-year-old Jacob Frost of Eureka said Missouri ranks 10th in ice cream production and 5th in production of dairy products. "Ice cream has an economic impact," he said.

Elise Floyd

Eleven-year-old Elise Floyd, also of Eureka, did the research about the history of ice cream in Missouri. Of course, the most telling argument involved the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis.

Most historical sources agree that the ice cream cone was introduced at the Fair.

One of the first things the kids did was to look for endorsements from organizations and companies with a stake in backing the ice cream cone.

Elise Kostial said she sent out endorsement letters. Among those who gave support were both the Missouri Restaurant Assn. and the Missouri Department of Tourism.

Also 11 Missouri dairies sent letters, including Pairie Farms. Also, eight ice cream manufacturers, including Prairie Farms, Breyer's and Cold Stone.

The kids' website noted a 1999 study which claimed St. Louisans ranked 4th in the nation in terms of ice cream consumption per capita.

The kids said they hoped designation of the ice cream cone as the state dessert would encourage building of a monument in Forest Park commemorating the 1904 introduction. Forest Park was the location of many fair buildings and activities.

Nicholas Frost

One unusual speaking opportunity during the campaign came when Elisa Kostial was invited to appear on KMOX talk show host Charlie Brennan's morning show. The appearance became a debate whether the ice cream cone or gooey butter cake-Brennan's favorite--should be the state dessert.

Elisa said, "I was pretty nervous before the show but once it started it was a lot easier."

Of course, the other kids thought Elisa got the best of the debate. They noted that six of the nine people who called in favored the ice cream cone.

Nicholas and Jacob Frost were among the witnesses who testified in the House committee hearing on their proposal. One legislator asked whether the kids thought the 7% of Missourians who didn't eat ice cream would be offended by the bill.

Kayleigh Hecht

"When you have 93% on your side, you're doing pretty good, don't you think?" Nicholas said. The legislator conceded the point.

Eleven-year-old Kayleigh Hecht of Wildwood said she introduced the legislators during the hearings in Jefferson City.

She said speaking in front of the legislators was the toughest thing she did during the campaign. "But, it got easier with each experience," she said.

Other members of the "ice cream cone" home-school project were:

Alexandria D'Ordine, Kjia Zuroweste, Garrett Floyd, Bethany Frost, Grace Savage, Louisa Geyer, Elizabeth and Katie Kramer, Thatcher Broyles, Anna, Nathan and Gabriel Farrell and Chloe and Josie Lozano.

Groups of kids went to Jefferson City as many as four times during the campaign.

Jacob Frost said he was embarrassed when he misidentified a legislator when trying to speak about their bill.

But, his brother, Nicholas, said the toughest part of the Jefferson City experience came at Ice Cream Day. "We had to walk around and talk to people but we didn't get any ice cream until the very end," he said.

But, he acknowledged that the ice cream manufacturers brought enough to feed all the crowd with enough left over for him at the end.

All the kids said the experience of trying to get a proposal through the state legislature got them more interested in government.

Nicholas Frost said, "I've thought about running for the Senate or the House. But, I wouldn't want to be president."

Elisa Kostial said she would consider going into politics after college. She said, "I learned so much with this project."

Jacob Frost said, "I learned a lot about public speaking."