Matthew Obold-Geary

I can leave Kansas, but Kansas will never leave me. That is why I keep coming back. Sure, I describe myself as a lifelong Kansas resident, and I have lived elsewhere for short periods, but I keep coming back and always keep a Kansas address. I keep coming back despite each legislative session seeming more volatile than the last. I keep coming back, even though it is clear our elected officials don't see us as individuals with unique, nuanced experiences. I keep coming back because I love the people of Kansas and feel proud of our state's unique character. I keep coming back because I adore the diversity and vastness of the prairie. I keep coming back because I love the bison roaming on the horizon, the golden wheat fields, the farmers who love the land they toil for generations, the rich blue sky, and the ornateness of the dome inside the Kansas Capitol Building. I keep coming back because Kansas is a special place.