This story was originally published by TheStatehouseFile.com
By Anna Cecil
TheStatehouseFile.com
June 20, 2025
In their classroom full of bright colors, with walls covered in inspiring messages and carefully crafted art projects, Emi Donato’s fourth-grade students might seem typical.
They start every day by watching the morning announcements, saying the Pledge of Allegiance and having a moment of silence—a routine this writer remembers from back in those days.
Every hour has a schedule—a time when they do math, English, science and history. During their last week of school, they even got to do an arithmetic activity involving gummy bears.
Behind Mrs. Donato’s desk are hand-drawn pictures of flowers, hearts, outdoor landscapes and butterflies. Some involve intricate origami skills.
Next to the door where the fourth graders enter their classroom hangs a signed mission statement, which says they, the students, promise to have growth mindsets and never give up. Another poster encourages students to be “LEADERS.”
While most classrooms across Indiana likely have similar decor, few put their slogans into action like Mrs. Donato’s class.
On an early, cold February morning earlier this year, Mrs. Donato’s students—and all of the fourth graders at Jasper Elementary School—took a two-and-a-half-hour trip up to the state’s capitol to lobby for an official state fruit that some Hoosiers may not be familiar with.
This fruit, the persimmon, according to the five fourth graders who presented it to members of the Government and Regulatory Reform Committee that day, has many benefits.
Small but mighty Sawyer Sternberg opened the testimony with a polite request that committee members consider the persimmon as the official Hoosier state fruit.
Sawyer’s classmate Grant Blackman told the committee that the persimmon is good for one’s health. The fibrous fruit expert said they reduce inflammation and contain vitamins A, B and C, potassium, and calcium. He added that they’re also good for digestion and the heart.
Sophie Gates covered the native-to-Indiana section of the persimmon presentation. She said the fruit’s trees can grow up to 60 feet tall and that they flourish in Indiana’s rich soil.
Ariel Cox went next, pleading to the committee with reason. She said 32 other states have an official fruit, so why not join them?
Mackenzie Morton, whose display hinted that she might be smarter than this college student, told the committee about the persimmon’s economic implications, which were of course positive.
She said the wood from the fruit’s tree can be used for golf clubs, drumsticks, instruments, furniture and other goods that would stimulate commerce in Indiana. She also said the fruit is great to cook with.
After they testified and bravely answered the lawmaker’s questions, the young lobbyists toured the Statehouse and headed home.
Their bill, House Bill 1618, has not been discussed publicly within the Indiana General Assembly since. It officially died Feb. 20.
Now TheStatehouseFile.com readers are probably wondering: Why should I care about a bill that died over four months ago?
Well, the persimmon advocates happen to be persistent. They are now asking for Hoosiers, and anyone really, to sign their persimmon petition.
They hope to signal to the Indiana General Assembly that although they will be fifth graders in August, “the Jasper Five” are far from giving up.
When the bill died, a parent called Mrs. Donato, the teacher behind the persimmon project, to let her know HB 1618 would not be making it to Gov. Mike Braun’s desk. Naturally, she was frustrated.
“I’m like, ‘Oh, OK. So, how am I going to break this news to the kids?’” she said. “I was more disappointed for the kids. I know they worked really hard. … It was wishful thinking for it to just go through on the fly.”
A hurdle she thought kept the bill from passing is the fact that the fruit is less common in northern Indiana. However, Mrs. Donato said critics should know that the persimmon tree is fully capable of growing there.
Despite the hurdles and potential disappointment in the death of their beloved legislation, the five persimmon lobbyists, according to their teacher, will not be giving up any time soon.
“They’re young and full of optimism and not cynicism,” she said. “They have a growth mindset.”
In late May, during the last week of school at Jasper Elementary, this reporter sat criss-cross applesauce in the hallway outside the classroom where the Jasper five prepped, planned and practiced their persimmon presentation.
Like Mrs. Donato said, they sure were optimistic that day.
“I was sad and happy because they didn’t say that they weren’t going to let us try again,” Grant said.
“If they’re doing bigger bills, they might forget about it,” Mackenzie responded.
“But that’s why we’re making the petition,” Ariel reminded her.
So, instead of giving up, the little lobbyists and their classmates put their growth mindsets to work. They had to make people aware of a new project—the official persimmon petition.
Students from all the fourth-grade classes came together and created posters with information about the persimmon and a QR code that teachers and parents can scan to sign the petition.
One poster features a persimmon tree with the words, “Pretty pretty please with a persimmon on top,” written in cursive.
Another says, “Do it for poor Indiana! Indiana wants a state fruit!”
Each poster was handmade, some with deliberate, detailed art, and posted around the school.
Their new passion project will not stop with the posters, according to the petitioners; they have several other ideas.
Grant said they will keep going to the Statehouse if they can.
In fifth grade, Mackenzie hopes to be pulled out of class to continue pushing for the persimmon.
“We might even work on it in the summer,” Sophie said.
When Sophie mentioned summer activities, the ideas started flowing.
“My mom will send it out on Facebook,” Mackenzie said. “I was thinking, maybe we could get shirts that say, ‘Let’s sign the petition,’”
They also mentioned making hats and backpacks, all with the QR code to their petition.
Ariel and Sophie both agreed they would wear the persimmon merch.
“My whole closet would be full of it,” the girls said.
Grant and Sawyer suggested driving around Indiana and spreading the news of the petition.
“We could wrap a car,” Sawyer quietly said.
His idea was met with great excitement from the others. The students dreamt of driving their persimmon-themed wrapped car, with the petition’s QR code on it, to Mitchell, Indiana, where the persimmon festival is located.
“We could do a stand there, like, sign the persimmon petition,” Mackenzie said.
They then decided that a commercial or billboard could also be a great way to spread awareness about the petition.
“We’ll just keep pushing until they get bored and say yes,” Sophie said.
“They can’t just say yes,” Mackenzie reminded her.
“We’ll just make them annoyed because we keep doing all this stuff. … Well, not annoyed, just persistent,” Sophie responded.
With their persistence established, the ideas became even grander.
Grant suggested contacting Elon Musk for help.
“He could probably get a jet and, like, fly it around the world,” the kids said as they continued brainstorming.
They also suggested starting a YouTube channel.
“Does anyone know a celebrity?” Mackenzie wondered.
Sawyer even thought Larry Bird might be able to help them.
Whether or not any professional basketball players become involved, the fourth graders from Jasper have made it clear they will not be quitting anytime soon—and neither will their teacher.
“There are so many selling points,” Mrs. Donato said. “Do we not want to stand out?”
This summer she too hopes to attend the persimmon festival in Mitchell, where the kids might be able to collaborate with fourth graders there who also are learning how to do persuasive writing—the Indiana state standard that inspired the project.
Donato has also considered setting up a stand in their local farmer’s market, where other fruit lovers may dwell.
“Hopefully, if enough people sign, it proves that a lot of people are advocating for the same thing as the five kids,” Mrs. Donato said.
Although she isn’t sure what the golden number for signatures would be on the petition, Mrs. Donato just doesn’t want her kids’ dream to die.
This year, the students said they have learned about perseverance, not just through the persimmon project but also from their teacher, Mrs. Donato.
“Even if we fail for the first time,” Ariel said, “she’s taught us to keep on going.”
And keep on going they will. To sign their petition and learn more about Indiana’s potential state fruit, follow this link.
Anna Cecil is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news site powered by Franklin College journalism students.
