WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - State Facts: Oregon

Episode Date: February 1, 2024

Nate is joined by Luke Jones to talk all about Oregon. 

Welcome to State Facts, the show where I'm state facts about the U.S. States. I'm here with Hillsdale's resident Oregonian, Luke. How are you today, Luke? I'm doing good night. So where are you from in Oregon, Luke? I've lived a few places in Oregon, mostly in Portland, the biggest city in Oregon. But I've also lived at the base of Mount Hood for about a year. And then I've lived in central Oregon for a couple years in the town of Bend.

Portland, big trailblazers, man? I am a big trailblazers. fan, but we are not so good right now. You know, you lost Lillard. It's all over. We're cooked. What's the capital of Oregon? Salem. When was Oregon admitted to the Union?

It's going to be 1833. Actually, it's February 14th, 1859. Okay, well... And I'm pretty sure that's Valentine's Day. Actually, now that I'm looking at it. February 14th? That is Valentine's Day, Nate. Look that. State of love. Yeah.

I don't think we are that. But, well, maybe, actually, now that you mention it. Oregon was the blank state admitted to the union? The 33rd. Very good. What's the population of Oregon? We've been growing a lot recently. So, say like $4.000 something?

Close. 4.2 million as of 2021. Okay. All right. Well, I mean, that's a couple years outdated. What's the nickname of the state? The beaver state. You see a lot of beavers?

I've seen a few beavers in my time, yeah. They really do build the dams. They do build the dams. Yeah, no, you see a lot more of like the trees they've cut down and the dams, than you actually see if the beavers. So you know they're around there. They just don't come out. What's the state bird?

The state bird. I don't know this one. The Western Meadowlark. I've never heard of it, Nate. Not a bird guy? I'm a bird guy. It's just, I've never heard of that one. I've heard of a lot of other birds,

and I see a lot of other birds. that I know the names of. I just never seen. Never known that one. What's the state flower? Oregon grape. Correct. Is it actually like a grape?

It's like, it's a little berry. It looks kind of like a grape, but it's just a little bit smaller. They are edible. They're pretty bitter, though. And if you eat too much of them, you'll get a stomach cake. But they're not bad.

It's like a little bush. They will have like yellow flowers. That's probably why they're a flower. And they have kind of sort of prickly leaves, kind of like a holly leaf. So, yeah. What's the state slogan? I don't know we had a slogan, Nate. Well, you do, and it's she flies with her own wings.

I bet she does. Now, what's the state crustacean? I don't know. I have one of those either. Really? Nope. I mean, I guess we are on the coast, and the coast does. You know, they got a lot of seafood. but enlighten me. Apparently, your fishermen pulled 10 million pounds of these things out of the sea each year.

I bet they pull a lot of things out of the sea. It's the Dunganess Crab. Okay. And a little fun fact, this was actually pushed by primary schoolers to be the state crustacean. That's crazy. It took it all the way to the state legislature. I bet, yeah. Those lobbyists, you know, little first graders.

What's the state beverage? I got to go with beer. It's actually milk. That's wild. You'd think that'd be like Wisconsin or something, you know? All the dairy up there, but I guess that's us. Yeah, and this was also pushed by primary schoolers. Is your just entire state run by primary schoolers?

I would not be surprised if it was, honestly. How about the state tree? Douglas fir. Nice. See a lot of those? Actually, yeah, my dad's a big tree guy, so I'm like young age. It's the alder trees. We got Douglas firs, Western Red Cedar.

Western Hemlocks Of the, you know, the fir trees There's also lots of other types of trees But he likes those ones You guys got those big trees out there Because I know California has those really big trees They got some really big ones We got some decently big ones

Those are a little bigger But... You're the ones you can drive like a car through Yeah You can drive a car at one of ours I don't know about you're going to get through it Depends on the car I guess It really does

Yeah What's your state song? I don't know This one has a really, really creative name. Oregon My Oregon. Wow. Love that. Never heard it before? I've never heard it before.

And what is the state animal? I know we already said that we're called the Beaver State, but I have to guess it's the beaver. It is the beaver. Okay. Well, Luke, thanks for coming on the show. Thanks for having me, Nate.