Defending the Kansas Horizon — One Server Rack at a Time
Sign the Counter-PetitionOur Mission
Somewhere between the fourth and fifth viewing of Field of Dreams, a group of Kansans decided that keeping the plains empty and dark was some kind of virtue. We disagree. We think electricity is good. We think jobs are good. We think air conditioning is good — particularly in Kansas in July, a month that feels like being inside a server that's NOT in a data center.
The Prairie Power Coalition stands in firm opposition to the opposition. We are pro-data, pro-jobs, pro-electricity, and deeply, fundamentally pro-corn. We respect the horizon. We just also want to put things on it.
Also, for the record: a 75th Ranger Regiment Ranger and a Marine are not the same thing. One eats MREs. The other eats crayons. Both are brave. Only one is in an Olivia Rodrigo music video. (We're not saying which.)
Opposition Intelligence Dossier
Steven Werner is the founder of Lawn Buddy, a Wichita-based software company that helps lawn care businesses schedule mowing appointments. Steven's professional expertise includes: billing automation, route optimization, and sending push notifications to people with leaf blowers. Steven's professional expertise does NOT include: electrical grid infrastructure, thermodynamics, data center cooling systems, terawatt-hour capacity planning, or any branch of engineering that doesn't involve grass.
Nevertheless, Steven has opinions about data centers. Big ones. He runs a coalition called the "Prairie Pirates" — which, as far as we can tell, is a group of people who are upset that something might be visible from a highway. Steven's lawn software, for reference, requires data centers to function. We assume he knows this.
Totally Accurate Military Comparison
People ask us: "What does the military have to do with data centers?" Nothing. Absolutely nothing. But the Prairie Pirates keep calling themselves "pirates," so we're leaning into the warrior metaphor. Here is a completely scientific comparison.
| Category | 75th Ranger Regiment | U.S. Marines | Kansas Data Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Fuel Source | MREs, patriotism | Crayons, Axe body spray | Wind energy, coal, existential purpose |
| Operates at Night | Absolutely, famously | Depends if they can find the base | 24/7/365, never sleeps, will outlive us all |
| Has Own Beret Color | Tan beret. Very cool. | No beret. Just vibes. | Server rack is black. Extremely cool. |
| Relationship to Crayons | Used only for maps | Complicated. Personal. | None. Servers are crayon-free environments. |
| Can be mistaken for a Ranger | N/A. They ARE Rangers. | Only if it's very dark and you're being generous | Cannot be mistaken for anything. It is a building. |
| Relationship to Kansas | Fort Riley alumni, respect | Mostly from Florida, respectfully | Deeply committed. Paying property taxes. |
| Would Steven Werner oppose them | Almost certainly not | Probably not, Marines are large | Somehow, yes. He has a coalition. |
| Eats crayons | 🚫 No | ✅ Allegedly. Frequently. | 🚫 No, but consumes ~40MW so close enough |
| Has Defeated an Enemy | Yes. Frequently. With extreme prejudice. | Yes. Also frequently. Loudly. | Has defeated latency. Counts. |
*This comparison is satire. We have tremendous respect for all branches of the military, including crayon enthusiasts. Data centers, however, are buildings. They did not attend Ranger School.
The Case for Power
Capital investment that pays property taxes. Unlike a pasture. Pastures don't pay property taxes.
Construction and operations jobs. Paying Kansas wages. To Kansas people.
Noise after construction. Data centers are quieter than a Marine at a crayon store.
Baseload electricity demand that makes wind farms economically viable. You're welcome, renewables.
Chance the data center organizes a coalition called "Prairie Pirates." It's a building.
Of Lawn Buddy's scheduling software runs on infrastructure exactly like this. Full circle.
Unsung Heroes of the Prairie
When the Prairie Pirates rode through town spreading their particular brand of concern, someone had to follow behind with the shovel. That someone was Ramsey and Nic. Two patriots. Two mops. One very avoidable mess.
Ramsey didn't ask for this assignment. Nobody does. But when Steven Werner's coalition finished its work on the streets of Kansas, somebody had to grab a shovel and restore order. Ramsey grabbed the shovel. Ramsey always grabs the shovel. That's what separates Ramsey from the Prairie Pirates — the Pirates make the mess, Ramsey cleans it up, and does so without ever forming a coalition or naming himself after a nautical criminal.
Nic saw the mess. Nic assessed the mess. Nic did not form a counter-coalition called the "Prairie Plumbers" or launch a website blaming anyone — Nic just got to work. This is the fundamental difference between people who do things and people who name themselves after pirates. Nic does things. Steven Werner names himself after pirates. One of these activities improves Kansas. The other one smells.
The Prairie Power Coalition formally recognizes Ramsey and Nic for their service to the streets of Kansas. While Steven Werner was busy planting the problem, these two were busy being the solution. Like Rangers. Except with mops. And the mess was not tactical. It was Werner's.
Voices of Reason
"I was against data centers until I realized my Lawn Buddy subscription runs on servers. Now I'm conflicted. Mostly I'm hot because it's July in Kansas and I need air conditioning, which requires electricity, which requires power infrastructure. I support the data center."— A Lawn Care Professional, Wichita
"I served with the 75th Ranger Regiment. I have eaten many things. Crayons were not among them. I also don't understand what we have to do with data centers but I support both and I want that on record."— Former Ranger, Fort Benning
"I am a Marine. I have heard the crayon allegations. I will neither confirm nor deny. I do support data centers because they power the internet, which is where I watch football. This is all I have to say."— Anonymous Marine, Somewhere with Good Wi-Fi
"My husband tried to explain what a data center does to me at dinner. I didn't follow all of it but he said 'it's like a really big computer' and I said that sounds fine, why is anyone upset? He didn't have a good answer."— Karen M., Rural Kansas
"The horizon will still be there. We checked. It moves with you. It's a horizon."— A Geographer
"My lawn mowing business uses Lawn Buddy. My Lawn Buddy app loads on the internet. The internet lives in data centers. I have mowed several data center lawns. The grass was very short and very flat. Professional job. No complaints."— Randy T., Lawn Care Entrepreneur
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Won't a data center ruin the Kansas skyline?
A: The Kansas skyline currently features grain elevators, water towers, and an Arby's visible from I-70. We're not sure what skyline we're protecting here.
Q: Is Steven Werner really a threat?
A: He runs lawn software. He's a fine person who has found his passion. His passion is, apparently, telling electricity where it can and cannot go. We disagree with him but we wish his lawn mowing customers well.
Q: Are Marines really that different from Rangers?
A: Yes. The 75th Ranger Regiment is an elite light infantry special operations force. The Marines are a branch of the military. Both are tremendous. Rangers have a different beret. Marines have a different relationship with Crayola. Neither is building data centers, which are — again — buildings.
Q: Why is your counter-coalition named after "power" and not something nautical?
A: Because Kansas is landlocked. "Prairie Pirate" makes no geographic sense. We contain multitudes but we do not contain an ocean.
Q: What do crayons have to do with any of this?
A: Nothing. Everything. We're not sure. We got lost somewhere around the third section and now we're committed.
Add your name to the growing list of Kansans who believe electricity is good, jobs are good, and lawn software CEOs should probably focus on scheduling mowing routes.