1. Wichita Cowboys Are Legit
With cattle herding such a vital part of the state’s economy, it was a natural evolution for cowboys and cowgirls to be bred and raised in Kansas. Many of the techniques and tools have advanced in our modern day but there are classic cowboy traditions that still exist today and are used regularly. And the cowboy way of life is one of them.
It’s not unusual for Wichitans to bedeck themselves in wide, weathered Stetsons and belt buckles bigger than your fist. They have a lot of hype to live up to—after all, Wichita is home of the famous gunslinger Wyatt Earp.
Don’t be fooled though, there is a difference between the real cowboys and the drugstore cowboys who get all duded up in cowboy attired but haven’t herded anything more than a few empty beer cans. Wichita isn’t a place for fakes and they will be quick to put a poser in his or her place.
2. And The Women of Wichita Are Just As Tough
True to the hearty Midwestern stereotype, Wichitans have a rugged nature about them. No task is too difficult; no job too large. They are triumphant through adversity, doing whatever it takes to get the job done and actually excelling in the face of obstacles and challenges. After all, the state motto is “ad astra per aspera,” meaning “to the stars through difficulties.”
It might have something to do with their environment. The winters are cruel and harsh, the summers are sweltering, and just stepping outside could be life-threatening, what with the prairie rattlers, poisonous spiders and monster fish.
Wichitans have adapted to their surroundings. They don’t over analyze the problem at hand or get bogged down with the details; they simply roll up their sleeves and get to work. This pioneering spirit crosses generations as well as gender. Wichitan women know how to change a flat tire and jump a car, and they aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty doing it.
3. Wichita College Basketball Will Fill You With Shock And Awe
For years the rest of Kansas (and college sports fans around the nation) refused to give the Wichita State Shockers any credit for their basketball team—or even to acknowledge them at all, for that matter. It might have something to do with the fact that their mascot is a sheath of wheat (that’s right) named the WuShock.
In a world where two state universities (WSU and Kansas Jayhawks) duke it out for superiority, this is the home of the basketball cold wars. No one wants to fess up to the fact that a rivalry does indeed exist, which is why it’s been referred to in the media as a “non-rivalry rivalry.”
4. Everyone In Wichita Eats Beef For Dinner...Period.
This is the Midwest, land of the steak and potato people. So it’s no surprise that folks in Wichita eat a lot of beef. But don’t worry about antibiotic-resistant infections spreading here—Kansas beef is special. Much of it comes from organic, grass-fed cattle farms.
With beef as fresh and delicious as that, who can blame them for leaning a little heavy on the protein? And when beef is what’s for dinner, Wichitans like to sup on a roast beef sandwich at Barn’rds Roast Beef Restaurant. Surprisingly, this sammie is healthy for you. Barn’rds was recently recognized by the Dietetic Association for providing healthy, reasonably portioned dishes, which include their famous roast beef, a high-quality cut of meat slow-roasted for hours. Great, in that case, I’ll have seconds!
Speaking of what's for dinner...
5. Wichitans Are Real...Ahem...Ballsy
When beef is what’s for dinner more often than not, it requires a little creativity to, um, “spice” things up. Enter the Kansas delicacy: calf fries. Or perhaps you know them as Rocky Mountain Oysters: bull calf testicles, in the flesh, breaded and fried.
I can’t say that I would ever find huevos del toro appetizing but Wichitans are a hearty people and they grew up on this stuff. Perhaps it goes back to that whole rugged nature mentality of waste not, want not.
6. Folks In Witchita Take Massive Pride In Their Air Force Roots
Wichita’s biggest economic generator sure as heck ain’t tourism. It’s actually aviation and as such, it is home of several aircraft production companies, including Cessna, Beechcraft, Learjet, and Spirit AeroSystems. Boeing maintains a large workforce in Wichita and there are more than 50 other aviation-related companies in town. The industry is so important that is has the ability to influence the economic health of the entire region.
The state of Kansas even offers tax breaks and other incentives to aircraft manufacturers to encourage them to continue to do business in state and remain a key provider of jobs. So chances are someone you know in Wichita works in some capacity the aviation industry.
7. Wichitans Let The Spirit Move Them
Roughly half the population of Wichita consists of god-fearing folk. The majority of those are Catholic and Baptist.
There is also a thriving Amish, Mennonite, and Hutterite population. And while these religious groups may seem a bit antiquated to outsider, and they tend to keep to themselves, but they will gladly help pull your car out of a ditch with their horse and buggy if the situation demands it. And the Mennonite Disaster Service has been responsible for helping thousands of people whose lives were affected by natural disasters.
There is also a Scientology church in Wichita, which seems slightly out of place, but as they say, Tom Cruise works in mysterious ways!
8. But The Good People Of Wichita Aren't Suffering Any Of That Westboro Nonsense
And who could blame them? For those of you who aren’t familiar, Phelps was a Topeka-based pastor known for delivering vehemently anti-gay sermons (among other vehemently anti-everything else sermons). He also gained notoriety for picketing the funerals of gays and soldiers.
He passed away earlier this year but the taint of his tyranny still lingers heavy for Kansans. Who are more than happy to stage a counter-protest at the drop of a...er.. sign.
Religion is more or less a way of life for Wichitans, but that doesn’t mean they bought into Phelps’ hateful proselytizing. In fact many Wichitans are embarrassed for Phelps and annoyed that they are associated with him just for sharing the same state.
9. Wichitans Will Politely Judge You For Your "Wizard Of Oz" Jokes
Seriously folks, get some new material already.
OK sure, Wichita gets a rap for being bland and not having much to do there and there isn’t a lot of pop culture references to get the conversation going but please, don’t ask a Wichitan what will happen if they click their heels together three times, or if they happen to have a relative named Em or a dog named Toto.
It’s like making a crack about Godzilla to a New Yorker. Probably not the best way to make a new friend. Wichitans are worn out on the Oz connection and would rather not have to courtesy laugh at your corny references.
10. Folks In Wichita, Are Seriously The Nicest People You’ll Ever Meet
Wichitans may be a bit reserved at first but don’t mistaken that for snobbery; just chalk it up to their cowboy stoicism. They are just as quick to help a stranger out of a bind as they are their next-door neighbor. In fact, don’t be surprised if they argue with each other over who will get to help you change a flat (unless you are also from Kansas and already know how to do that), all while making conversation about the weather or politely laughing at your corny "Wizard of Oz" jokes (they’re mama taught them manners).
Feature image Source: Flickr user Ty Nigh 
