Nearly 50 Kansas University staff and faculty members will take the state by storm in coming days as part of the annual “Wheat State Whirlwind” tour.

The tour, begun in 1997 by Chancellor Robert Hemenway, is a chance for KU employees to learn more about Kansas and its heritage. Between today and Friday, they will visit 26 communities around the state, including Dodge City, Hutchinson and Cottonwood Falls.

The trip, which is free for employees, costs about $25,000 each year; about $15,000 comes from private donations and $10,000 comes from state funds.

“We have more applicants than we can take,” said Margey Frederick, KU’s director of special events and visitor services.

Frederick said the group will not visit Greensburg, site of a devastating tornado earlier this month, because of congestion from visitors who already have gone to help.