BOISE, ID – A committee of Idaho legislators and state officials planning the America250 in Idaho celebrations voted on Wednesday to spend up to $20,000 promoting upcoming celebrations planned for July 4, 2026.
During a meeting at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, the America250 in Idaho Advisory Council voted to spend the money through an ambassadors program that Idaho State Treasurer Julie Ellsworth is heading up.
The advisory council is focusing its time and funding on promoting and supporting celebrations planned for next summer that are tied to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence being signed in 1776.
“This is such a big deal for us as a nation,” said Rep. Brandon Mitchell, a Moscow Republican who serves as co-chair of the advisory council. “In our state we want to really lead the nation and show what we can do here in Idaho.”
Funding America250 celebrations across the state of Idaho
The committee also approved a similar $20,000 funding request from Ellsworth at its previous meeting in June, Ellsworth said. So far, money has gone toward printing and promotional materials like a video, buttons, binders, cards, pouches, cellophane bags and other materials.
In addition to the $20,000 for the ambassadors program, the America250 in Idaho Advisory Council is also awarding $250,000 through its celebration fund via grants of up to $2,500 each to support local cities’ and counties’ America 250 celebrations in Idaho, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported.
Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane said the city of American Falls recently became the first Idaho community to submit an application for grant funding. Applications are still being accepted, and information about how city and county officials can apply for grant funding is available on the America250 in Idaho website.
The focus on community celebrations and events promoting America250 in Idaho represents the new direction the advisory committee has been heading since spring. In March, legislators serving on the advisory committee cancelled grants for 29 different nonprofits and arts organizations after they said they wanted to be hyperfocused on America250 celebrations and patriotic celebrations of the founding of this country, the Sun previously reported.
Idaho state treasurer sends patriotic potato commission dolls across the state
As part of the ambassador program, Ellsworth has also designed and made costumes for nine Revolutionary Spuddy Buddy plush dolls by hand.
The Revolutionary Spuddy Buddies travel with legislators or members of the advisory committee to public events around the state like Fourth of July parades, rodeos, fairs and festivals to generate hype for the America250 in Idaho celebrations.
At each event, the Revolutionary Spuddy Buddies’ ambassadors travel with a piece of a symbolic Declaration of Independence scroll that Idahoans can sign their name to before it is unfurled from the top of the Idaho State Capitol next year.
The Revolutionary Spuddy Buddies have their own names, like Spud Revere; trading cards; and back stories.
Ellsworth admits it sounds silly, but she said people are going crazy for the Revolutionary Spuddy Buddies, and everybody always wants to take their picture with them.
“It’s our way to heighten America 250,” Ellsworth said. “It’s been very, very fun, very loved and very responded to by everybody.”
Ellsworth told the Sun she spent her own money making the Revolutionary Spuddy Buddies and buying the materials for their custom costumes.
The Revolutionary Spuddy Buddies are based on the Idaho Potato Commission’s Spuddy Buddy mascot.
Each Revolutionary Spuddy Buddy is about two to three feet high and takes up to 10 hours to make and dress, said Ellsworth, who learned to sew as a child and said she has a knack for making dolls and costumes.
Eventually she plans for there to be 16 Revolutionary Spuddy Buddies in her collection.
This story first appeared on Idaho Capital Sun.
