Ten Things That Idahoans Want Outsiders To Understand

1. Our education is a joke, but we all turned out okay.

Idaho’s education is known for being 49^th in America, and yeah, we don’t have fancy private schools or have been studying French since kindergarten, but that doesn’t automatically make us dumb rednecks.

2. No, Boise State wasn’t my dream school.

I may go to Boise State, and might be a die hard Bronco fan, but in high school, I never wanted to stay here. I did have plans to leave, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the great school it is and love being able to stay in this beautiful state.

3. Don’t ask me who Coach Hawkins, Jared Zabransky, Coach Pete, or even Kellen Moore is.

If you do, I will walk away. Frankly, you should know this if you go to Boise State; they help put us on the map, and Boise State should really put that on as an application requirement.

4. Yes, there is more to Idaho than potatoes.

If you have ever spent any time in Idaho, then you would see the true beauty of the land, from the mountains to rolling hills. Yes, there are fields filled with potatoes, but that doesn’t mean the whole state is filled with potato fields.

5. We secretly think that it's cold too.

We may never admit this to you, especially if you are from California, but yes, we do think it's cold, and we are freezing out butts off, we just have more practice at hiding it.

6. U-Da-ho?

That's cute, if you're still in sixth grade, but we didn't find it funny then either. So do your state a favor and say Idaho the right away.

7. Boise doesn't have a Z

Not sure who decided that 's' makes a 'z' noise, but even though we are 49^th in America in Education, we still know that.

8. "You mean Iowa?"

We're used to people asking us if we are from Iowa when we say Idaho, and chances are, we all have lied at least once to just avoid the 100 other questions that come when you say Idaho, like, do you grow potatoes?

9. We don't hate you, Californians.

Honestly, we don't. We love California just as much as you. I mean, when we are freezing our butts off in March, so it's nice to have a warm getaway for spring break that isn't that far away. What we do hate is you trying to make Idaho into California. I mean, how would you like it if we started planting potatoes in the middle of L.A.?

10. We wouldn't trade it for anything.

Okay, yeah, Idaho isn't the most exciting place in the world, but we grew up with hot summers spent at Lucky Peak, rafting, camping, going to the art festival, and with winters skiing and sledding, and we have all four seasons, so that's pretty sweet too. We love our little conservative state that no one understands and are proud to have grown up here.