This Utah city adopted a unique mascot. Say hello to the La Verkin gherkin
by Arianne Brown ksl · KSL.comKEY TAKEAWAYS
- La Verkin has introduced its new city mascot the La Verkin gherkin.
- City administrator Kyle Gubler embraced the quirky idea after initial skepticism.
- The gherkin debuted at an Easter event and will appear at future celebrations.
LA VERKIN, Washington County — This southern Utah city has a new mascot, and it comes in the form of the only word that rhymes with La Verkin — gherkin.
A gherkin is a small cucumber, usually 1 to 5 inches in length, often used to make pickles. Someone proposed the idea of having a gherkin as a city mascot years ago, but the idea was shelved — or rather, refrigerated for quite a while, said La Verkin city administrator Kyle Gubler.
"At first, I was skeptical, but then I thought maybe that's something we can consider," Gubler said. "La Verkin doesn't rhyme with apricot, so we couldn't do apricot. It took several years, but then I decided it's kind of a quirky idea, but it's exactly what we need."
La Verkin is located about 20 miles northeast of St. George, and has just shy of 5,000 residents. Many of those residents joined the La Verkin gherkin during its official debut at the city's Easter egg hunt earlier this month.
"The kids thought it was great," Gubler said. "They all wanted their picture taken with it."
Gubler said there are many who have volunteered to wear the now-coveted pickle suit, but all those who do will remain anonymous.
"It makes it a little more fun and exciting if you don't know who's in the suit," he said. "We'll take volunteers that want to get in the suit; they've just got to be animated and kid-friendly. They don't have to speak. In fact, the gherkin doesn't talk."
Since the gherkin's debut, the city has been finding ways for the community to take a piece of the La Verkin gherkin home.
"We've got some pickle pens and we've got some T-shirts made," he said. "A couple of people have called and said that they want stress balls and stuffed animals. We're going to lean right into it and let everybody have some fun with it."
Gubler said that whatever they can do to bring a smile to people's faces, he's all about that.
"I grew up here, and I'm lucky enough to be able to work for the town I grew up in," he said. "I love La Verkin. I think it's one of the best places in all the world. Anything you can do to show people how great La Verkin is, I'm all for it."
The La Verkin gherkin is gearing up for an appearance at the town's Water Days in June, and then again for the Fourth of July.
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Arianne Brown
Arianne Brown is a reporter covering southern Utah communities, with a focus on heart-warming stories and local happenings. She has been a reporter for 14 years.