There needed to be an official Wisconsin tartan to represent the state's history and culture and to be recognised as an official state symbol. Wisconsinites could wear the tartan as a recognised symbol of their home state. The Wisconsin legislature passed legislation establishing the official Wisconsin tartan in April 2008 and the Act was signed by the governor on 7 April 2008. The colours in the tartan are symbolic of the State history and culture: brown represents the fur trade that opened the state to new settlers; grey represents the lead miners who helped give the state its nickname 'Badgers' (the badger is also the State's mascot and the mascot of the University of Wisconsin); red represents the University system that has given Wisconsin so much innovation and industry; blue represents the state's waters that include the great lakes, commerce and recreation; green represents forests, agriculture and their contribution to Wisconsin; yellow represents both dairy and brewing - two industries that helped build Wisconsin. Yellow and green intersect to represent professional sports in the color combination of one of the state's teams.