Sweeter to me than the salt sea sprays, the fragrance of summer rains.

Nearer my heart than the mighty hills are the wind-swept Kansas plains.

Dearer the sight of a shy wild rose by the roadside dusty way

Than all the splendor of poppy fields ablaze in the sun of May.

Gay as the bold poinsettia is. and the burden of pepper trees,

The sunflower tawny and gold and bronze is richer to me than these:

And rising ever above the song of the hoarse insistent sea

The voice of the prairie calling, calling me

~~Miss Esther Clark, 1907 Long Beach, California

On this day in 1861, the Great State of Kansas entered the Union...as a free state. We are mighty proud of that. And Yes, 'Home on the Range' is our state song.

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