POST FALLS — At 5 years old, Sky Lynn was one of the younger citizens in Idaho to pen her name to a replica of the Declaration of Independence. 

She and Blake Norris visited the Post Falls American Legion Post 143 as part of an America250 event to add their names to the replica and meet two of the Revolutionary War era personas of the Spuddy Buddy Ambassadors. 

Along with the growing list of signatures on the replica Declaration of Independence, George Washingtator and Betsy Tots were the stars of the show. 

“George Washingtator was her favorite,” Norris said. 

Idaho State Treasurer Julie Ellsworth talked about her process in creating the historical Spuddy Buddy Ambassadors and said although they are time-consuming to research and outfit, it’s been worth it to see residents of all ages get excited by the Revolutionary representation. 

“They take 10 hours each to make and buttons are the hardest thing, but they do get everybody’s attention,” Ellsworth said. 

The tour of Idaho to promote America250 has allowed the specialized spuds to bring more people to events where they can also engage with the Declaration of Independence in a more tactile way than through a historical tome. 

“I want every region of the state to sign on and own it,” Ellsworth said. 

Michelle Fansler was thrilled to take part in the event and had a direct tie of her own to America’s revolutionary history. 

In addition to being a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, she has been digging into the past and found some of her family’s looming legends of history were true after all. 

“My ancestor was George Washington’s second cousin, so I’ve been into this for the last four years since I found out,” Fansler said. “I didn’t believe it at first. I said, ‘Yeah, right grandma,’ and then I spent the next 10 years trying to prove it.” 

Anne Pope Washington was a great-aunt to Washington, and eventually Fansler came out of that lineage. Since then, she’s been giving local talks about the revolutionary discovery.   

The replica declaration and Spuddy Buddies will also be present from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. today at the Idaho State Veterans Home during its Fall Harvest Festival.     

For more information about America250 in Idaho, visit: America250.Idaho.Gov.