We are feeling the love this February. We ended January with a fantastic branding celebration, including the reveal of our new brand anthem video. The momentum continues with Kansas’ Black History Month, International Pancake Day and a Super Bowl commercial that took our breath away.
Peep our new video below!
Kansas Celebrates Black History Month
Kansas has always been at the forefront of Civil Rights history and black culture. From our firey induction to the Union as a free state, becoming home for countless freedom seekers at Nicodemus and Quindaro, leading the nation’s first successful student-led Civil Rights sit-in, becoming the canvas for the landmark case that banned segregation in American public schools, fostering black creatives and entrepreneurs and so much more, Kansans have had a quiet, humble voice in it all. Come explore the vibrant black history of Kansas, past and present.
International Pancake Day, February 16
The International Pancake Day Race, a tradition in Olney, England for centuries and in Liberal, KS for the past 71 years has been postponed until 2022. This year’s 72nd anniversary will be commemorated with a social media campaign on February 16, 2021. In Olney, England, the Pancake Race tradition dates back nearly 600 years to 1445. A woman engrossed in using up cooking fats (forbidden during Lent) was making pancakes. Hearing the church bells ring calling everyone to the shriving service, she grabbed her head scarf (required in church) and ran 415 yards to the church, skillet and pancake in hand and still apron clad. In following years, neighbors got into the act and it became a race to see who could reach the church first and collect a “Kiss of Peace” from the verger (bell-ringer.) R.J. Leete, Liberal Jaycee President, saw a magazine picture of the Olney women racing each other to the church. He contacted the Rev. Ronald Collins, Vicar of St. Peter and St. Paul’s church in Olney, challenging their women to race against women of Liberal. Learn More
The Story Behind THAT Jeep Commercial
The Superbowl commercial featuring Bruce Springsteen was filmed in Lebanon, KS, at the Geographical Center of the Lower 48 States. Bruce can been seen standing in front of the little white chapel in the Geographical Center Park. “All are more than welcome, to come meet here, in the middle” is the line that rings true about Kansas. Read on to learn more about “the middle”. Learn More
Southeast Kansas Road Trip
Diversity is found outdoors, on the water, in the fields and in the sky. Discover a different Kansas, Southeast Kansas. This region is home to Kansas’ stretch of Route 66, Big Brutus, Fried Chicken Wars, the “Superbowl” of gravel grinding, and a replica of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie. Learn More
