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State Symbols

The official state symbols represent the cultural heritage and natural treasures of each state or the entire United States

South Dakota Symbols

South Dakota State Bread

Fry bread

Adopted on February 7, 2005.

Fry bread was adopted as South

Dakota's State Bread on February 7, 2005.

The South Dakota Legislature approved a bill designating fry bread, an American Indian staple, as the official state bread.

The House voted 64-3 to add fry bread to the long list of state symbols that includes coyotes, Houdek soil, honey bees and walleyes, and making South Dakota the first in the nation to choose fry bread as a state symbol.

Supporters have said it is time for the state to officially recognize a symbol of Indian culture.

"Does it represent our heritage? Does it represent our culture? Does it represent our history?" asked State Rep. Larry Rhoden, a Republican. He said yes to all three.

State of South Dakota
EIGHTIETH SESSION
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 2005

691L0697 HOUSE BILL NO. 1205

Introduced by: Representatives Valandra, Elliott, Garnos, Halverson, Hargens, Kroger, Putnam, Rounds, and Van Norman and Senators Two Bulls, Abdallah, Adelstein, Bogue, Hanson (Gary), Koetzle, Lintz, Moore, and Sutton (Dan)

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to designate fry bread as the official bread of South Dakota.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. That chapter 1-6 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:

Fry bread is hereby designated as the official state bread of South Dakota.

State Symbols

State symbols represent things that are special to a particular state.

symbol \ˈsim-bəl\
noun

Etymology:
in sense 1, from Late Latin symbolum, from Late Greek symbolon, from Greek, token, sign; in other senses from Latin symbolum token, sign, symbol, from Greek symbolon, literally, token of identity verified by comparing its other half, from symballein to throw together, compare, from syn- + ballein to throw — more at devil
Date: 15th century

1: Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible.