Carol Goeders, age 10 of Shreveport, La., for the question:

Why is Oklahoma called the Sooner State?

In the early 1800ts the rich lands of Oklahoma were known far and widen Ranchers wanted ranges, farmers wanted arable land and Indians were making a last stand for the region. The catty ranchers were hostile to the farmers, or boomers, who wanted to cultivate the land. The boomers brought pressure on Congress to open the Indian territory for farming.

Congress bought two million acres of Indian land and declared it open to settlers at noon April 22, 1889. The news started a run of settlers, all wanting to be there at the appointed hour or sooner than the appointed hour. Those that laid claim to their land ahead of time were the sooners. And Oklahoma became known as the Sooner State.