Photo: Brian Myrick / Idaho Press
In what was a heartwarming ceremony that involved a determined fourth-grader from Twin Falls and the Idaho Governor at the State Capitol yesterday, House Bill 652 was signed into law, designating hunting as the Gem State’s official state sport.
Betty Grandy, a 9-year-old homeschool student, stood proudly beside the governor as he put pen to paper on the ceremonial copy of the bill. Moments later, she stepped up to the podium to share her story with lawmakers, family members, and members of the media gathered in the governor’s office.
It all started simply enough in Betty’s Idaho history studies. While reading her textbook, she noticed that unlike many other states, her home state of Idaho was without their very own official state sport.
“I realized Idaho did not have an official state sport,” Betty explained. “I thought that I should ask people in my community so it wasn’t just me picking — Idaho was picking.”
Rather than leave it at that, the enterprising fourth-grader took action. She turned to The Grandy Gazette, the neighborhood newspaper she publishes with support from her family. In its pages, she ran a poll asking readers to choose what sport best represented Idaho. Options included skiing, whitewater rafting, ice skating, fishing, and hunting/archery.
And in true Idaho fashion, hunting won by a landslide.
Betty argued that the choice made perfect sense. With roughly 70% of Idaho consisting of public lands, a rich outdoor heritage, and deep traditions of conservation and family time in the field, hunting embodies the state’s history and values. It’s a practice that sustained both Native peoples and early settlers, and it continues to connect generations of Idahoans to their natural surroundings today.
Her idea quickly gained momentum as Rep. Don Hall (R-Twin Falls), a former mayor of Twin Falls, stepped up and sponsored the legislation. When he couldn’t attend a key committee hearing, Rep. Grayson Stone stepped in to present Betty’s testimony.
The bill sailed through the process with remarkable bipartisan support. It passed the House unanimously and cleared the Senate with near-unanimous approval. Governor Little, who had met with Betty earlier and encouraged her efforts, signed the measure into law in late March. Yesterday’s ceremonial signing gave Betty her well-earned moment in the spotlight, which included her very own personal copy of the signed bill.
House Bill 652 adds a new section to Idaho Code (67-4517) formally declaring hunting as the state sport and is set to take effect on July 1st of this year.
Lawmakers and observers described the effort as a refreshing example of civic engagement. In an era when many worry about declining youth involvement in outdoors traditions (and anything else for that matter), Betty’s story stands out as a bright spot. She has been called perhaps the youngest — and most successful — lobbyist of the 2026 legislative session.
Hunting now joins other iconic Idaho state symbols, from the huckleberry to the Appaloosa horse, as an official representation of what makes the state unique.
