1. Kansas was admitted as a state on February 14, 1861, becoming the 34th state in the United States of America. It is known as the Sunflower State and its capital is Topeka.

2. In 1903, the Kansas Legislature authorized the creation of what is now known as the Kansas Department of Agriculture, which helps to protect the state's natural resources, promote agricultural production, and safeguard consumers.

3. On February 14, 1929, seven members of the North Side Gang in Chicago were killed in a notorious incident known as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, which has become part of Kansas history because one of the members killed, John May, was born and raised in Kansas.

4. In 1962, NASA launched the first, and only, spacecraft to successfully land on Venus, known as the Mariner 2. This significant event in space history is notable for Kansans because one of the key scientists who helped to design and build the spacecraft, Dr. William Pickering, was born in Wellington, Kansas.

5. Finally, on February 14, 2007, a deadly tornado struck the town of Enterprise, Kansas, killing one person and injuring dozens of others. The EF2-rated twister caused extensive damage to homes and businesses in the area, and serves as a tragic reminder of the unpredictable weather that Kansans often face.