Kansas will celebrate its 157th Birthday on Monday, January 29. The day is celebrated because a group of school children in 1877 from Paola, Kansas, took a great interest during their history lesson resulting in two weeks of research on Kansas. Their celebration commenced on January 29 and has since spread through the years in schools across the State as Kansas Day - full of history, facts and celebration.
Kansas was the 34th state to join the union and if you choose to visit the Capitol for Kansas’s birthday you’ll see the number 34 incorporated into the recent renovation. Another fun fact about Kansas and 34 is that Abilene native, Dwight Eisenhower, was the 34th President of the United States. Amelia Earhart is amongst some of the other Kansans who’ve made history through the years, including inventors Almon Stowger of El Dorado who invented the dial telephone in 1889; William Purvis and Charles Wilson of Goodland who invented the helicopter in 1909; and Omar Knedlik of Coffeyville who invented the first frozen carbonated drink machine in 1961!
Kansas is probably most known for its agriculture. Today, Kansas leads the nation in wheat, sorghum and beef production, making agriculture a key economic factor.
Today, as you reflect on the State we’re proud to call home, I hope you’ll take a minute to reflect on our past, present and future and be thankful for what is it that makes Kansas home to each of you!
Be kind to one another!