Kansas became a state January 30, 1861, nestled in there among other states and territories on the plains.

Many famous people hail from Kansas, but probably the best known, worldwide, is fictional: namely, Dorothy Gale, the heroine of L. Frank Baum’s American classic, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Dorothy gets relocated to Oz by a cyclone.

As you might conclude, Kansas has some serious weather challenges. Ask any Kansan.