Topeka ? Kansas Republicans are gathering for their biggest convention of the year.

The GOP leadership will kick off the two-day event Friday with speeches by Gov. Sam Brownback and Kansas Congressman Kevin Yoder.

Kansas officials will be joined in their receptions by speeches from visiting Republicans legislators. Congressman Trey Gowdy of South Carolina will speak at the Saturday lunch, while Congressman Steve Russell of Oklahoma will speak at the evening banquet. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa will also speak, coming off of delivering the Republican rebuttal to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address last week.

Kansas Republicans hold their annual convention on or near the anniversary of Kansas’ 1861 entry into the Union as a state.