State Rep. Gary Howell of North Branch, chair of the House Natural Resources & Outdoor Recreation Committee, recently welcomed a group of middle school students to Lansing to testify before the committee.

The group from Waldon Middle School in Lake Orion made the trip to voice their support for Rep. Howell’s bill, House Bill 4589, which would designate the eastern wild turkey as the official game bird for the state of Michigan. The bill was introduced by Rep. Howell at the request of the students.

Jon Gray, eighth grade science teacher at Waldon, and social studies teacher Jillyan Fuller developed an innovative way to pair Gray’s aviary science lessons with Fuller’s lessons on how state government operates. Gray then visited Howell’s office hours in Lapeer with letters of support from the students. Testifying before the committee gave students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the legislative process.

“Mr. Gray’s students provided thorough and compelling testimony on this proposal,” Howell said. “They also spoke with many of my colleagues in the House of Representatives individually to secure their support. I believe the students have learned a great deal about successful civic involvement by promoting this bill.”

Also testifying in support of the bill was Art Pelon, president of the Michigan Wild Turkey Federation.

If passed out of committee, House Bill 4589 would move to the House floor, where it would receive a vote before the full chamber.