CARLTON, Minn. — Whenever Carolyn Schroeder eats a blueberry muffin, she thinks back to 1987.

Back then, she was a teacher for a class of 17 second graders at South Terrace Elementary in Carlton, Minnesota. She taught the 7- and 8-year-olds about state symbols such as the bird (loon), gemstone (agate) and tree (Norway pine).

Schroeder saw a news story about how a group of school children had campaigned to make the official state muffin of Massachusetts the corn muffin.

"So we brainstormed, what kind of muffin would be the best for Minnesota?" Schroeder said. "Of course, with kids that age, you can imagine those ideas — mostly their favorites like chocolate chips or lemon. No one said 'bran muffin.'

"After much discussion, we settled on the blueberry muffin," she said. "Why? Because s

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