Immigrants from southern Ukraine brought Turkey hard red winter wheat seed to Kansas in 1874.

This new and much better wheat seed soon produced an amazing economic miracle for Kansas. 

Oh, Kansas land! Dear Kansas Land! No place elsewhere is half so grand,

No spot is there so free from gloom, As Kansas where the Sunflowers bloom.

In all the North, South, East or West, No state has been more richly blest--

Why even the sun has chosen to dower, With a Golden Glow, our bright Sunflower!

Pearl Alice Ladd 1914