TOPEKA — People who love Kansas are invited to enter the annual Kansas Factual Story Contest, sponsored by the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas.

This contest encourages Kansans to preserve the factual,unpublished happenings and anecdotes in their lives from today and yesterday. The contest is open to everyone.

Stories must be true and unpublished, take place in Kansas, and limited to 750 words. Entries must be submitted electronically by email no later than November 28, 2014. One entry per person; they will not be returned. Essays should include the author’s name, mailing address, and phone number. Send entries to: Terry Marmet, Kansas Historical Foundation, [email protected]. Include “Beech Memorial Contest” in the subject line of the email. The Kansas Historical Society may preserve all stories in their collections.

Olive Ann Beech, Wichita, provided winners with cash awards for over 30 years. Following her death, her daughter, Mary Lynn Oliver, Wichita, has continued this support. The Beech Memorial cash awards are: first place, $175; second place, $125; third place, $100; and $50 each for two honorable mentions.

A panel from the Historical Society and the Foundation will judge entries. Judges will look for quality of writing, interesting anecdotal stories of Kansas. Winners will be announced and recognized at the annual meeting of the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas on Jan. 30 in Topeka.

For more information, contact Terry Marmet, director of operations, Kansas Historical Foundation, (785) 272-8681, ext. 209; [email protected].