Wyomingites Suggest That You Leave The State Flag Alone

If you want to ruffle some feathers in Wyoming, suggest a change. That will do the job.

There was a study done by Custom Made Casino that asked respondents if they were going to change their state flag; how would they change it?

READ MORE: How The Wyoming State Flag Was Designed

When I read the suggestions, I became outraged at some of the ideas folks offered, and immediately wondered why they would choose the changes they did. I then realized that of the 3,014 respondents to the study, there were probably only a couple who were from Wyoming, and those who responded were doing so in a tongue-in-cheek manner.

At least that is what I was hoping, because I felt the changes they suggested (theoretically) were crazy. It's ok to ponder things in life, and it's ok to say "wow it would be cool to see this on the Wyoming state flag," but that doesn't mean you're actually going to insist that it happens.

READ MORE: Wyoming's State Flag Is One Of The Most Recognizable

Now, don't jump out of your skin, and know that these suggestions didn't come from me, but here are the "Top 3" responses given.

Again, don't attack the messenger.

Wyomingites’ top three choices for an updated state flag that best represents the modern Equality State according to Custom Made Casino's study responses:

#1. A cowboy hat with the price tag still on
A cowboy hat with the price tag still on gives Wyoming a wink at its visitor economy. It nods to the Western image people arrive wanting to try on, sometimes literally, while locals quietly know the difference between a working hat and a souvenir with good lighting.

#2. Yellowstone traffic jam
A Yellowstone traffic jam is Wyoming tourism in its most recognizable form. It starts with natural wonder and ends with a line of rental cars waiting because someone has spotted wildlife 300 yards away and decided the brake pedal is now a lifestyle.

#3. Jackson Hole Zillow listing
A Jackson Hole Zillow listing tells a very modern Wyoming story: stunning views, national attention and housing prices capable of making even confident people close the tab quietly. It is mountain beauty with a real-estate reality check attached.

I really couldn't believe that those were the top 3 answers. Then I read the responses for some other states like Colorado, Tennessee, and Texas and realized that most of the responses would make for a fun T-shirt, but not actually a new state flag.

• Colorado’s modern flag makeover came in the form of a craft IPA can, giving the state a symbol with plenty of local flavor. The state’s brewery culture has become part of its modern identity, turning post-hike drinks, taproom opinions, and very specific hop preferences into something close to a civic language.
• Tennessee’s modern flag candidate came with wheels, music, and questionable group coordination: the pedal tavern. It is party tourism in motion, matching outfits, public singing, and the bold assumption that what a city street really needs is twelve people pedaling toward another round.
• Texas, naturally, went big with a suburban mega truck: a symbol with height, chrome, and absolutely no interest in fitting neatly into a parking space. It is part utility vehicle, part lifestyle statement, and part rolling reminder that in Texas, even the school run can arrive with tow capacity.

If you didn't know, Wyomingites are passionate about Wyoming. Sure, there are those who have a chip on their shoulder, or would rather live anywhere else but Wyoming, and to those people I'd say, "Don't let the door hit ya, where the good lord split ya."

I thought that I'd go to our social media page to see what REAL Wyomingites thought about a change, and I wasn't disappointed by the answers.

Do you have the Wyoming flag proudly displayed? I'd love to see yours proudly flying in the Wyoming wind. Send me a picture here: Drew.Kirby@townsquaremedia.com