As I said before, I live in a small farming community where our main crops raised in Kansas are wheat. Also, one of the largest employers in the county I live in and also around the state and across the United States is the oil industry.

Down the road about ten miles is another small community called "Herzog" which is the German name for Victoria (I believe). This small community is the home of a beautiful cathedral this side of the Mississippi, and it was named by William Jennings Bryant "The Cathedral of the Plains". This cathedral is built out of native limestone that is found here in Western Kansas. The building of this cathedral was a labor of love for the Volga Germans and is found in the majestic structure of this church.

As you are traveling down the highways and biways of Kansas, take a look around. You will see lots of native limestone that is used for fence posts, for barns, and even for homes now. Some of the limestone has indentations acquired over years of lying in the fields and pastures, and if you look closely you can sometimes find an actual fossil.

You can also find what is called by some as the "Kansas Diamond". My son loves to go exploring along the Smoky Hill River and come home with quite a bit of the "Kansas Diamonds". These "Kansas Diamonds" are actually clear pieces of quartz that have been lying about for millions of years and some are small pieces and some can be quite large, and each has it's own unique design.

Well, this is the part of Kansas that I live in, and the place that I know best. Hope you have enjoyed my little summary of Western Kansas! Talk to you soon!