"Ohai-yo"

A short history of the BUCKEYE

Ohio is known as the "Birthplace of Aviation" (because we birthed the Wright Brothers), and "the Mother of Modern Presidents" ('cause we're pretty good at winning elections). Most of all, Ohio is called "the Buckeye State." Explanation time:

Ohio, the “Buckeye State”, received its nickname because of the many buckeye trees that once covered its hills and plains.
But that's only partly the reason. We have to go back to the feverish presidential campaign of 1840 for the rest of it.
William Henry Harrison, a Virginia-born Ohioan and military hero, was a candidate for the White House, but his opponents commented that he was better suited to sit in a log cabin and drink hard cider.
Some of Harrison's leading supporters, who were experts in promotional know-how, decided to turn into a positive reference what was supposed to be a negative one.
They dubbed him "the log cabin candidate," and chose as his campaign emblem a log cabin made of buckeye timbers, with a long string of buckeyes decorating its walls. Furthermore, in parades, his backers walked with buckeye canes and rolled whisky barrels.
The campaign gimmicks were successful. "Old Tippecanoe," as Harrison was often called, beat President Martin Van Buren in the latter's bid for re-election, and thereafter the buckeye was closely associated with the state of Ohio.
The name itself is of native origin. Because the markings on the nut resembled the eye of a buck, the Indians called it "hetuck" or "buckeye."
© 1997 Dan Chabek
source: http://www.lkwdpl.org/buckeye/index.html

Pretty sweet, huh? Well. perhaps you'll also be surprised to learn that the nuts of the buckeye tree are kind of poisonous, though carrying one around in your pocket is said to bring good luck and a cure for rheumatism. Native Americans would sometimes cook them up and use them as a nutritional supplement (apparently they aren't poisonous if you cook and mash them up) (http://www.ohio-nature.com/buckeye-tree.html). The circular, smooth, two-brown-tone of the buckeye nut is an enduring symbol of the Buckeye state and its "Best Damn Band in the Land." That's right, folks. The Ohio State mascot is a nut. A nut named Brutus. Don't even think about laughing at that. And if you ever hear someone shout "O H!" be sure to respond with "I O!" right away and with much excitement. If you don't, they will pelt nuts at you. Circular, brown, poisonous nuts.

MOST IMPORTANTLY the buckeye nut has been immortalized in the form of a dessert. A peanut butter ball dipped in (but leaving a circle of peanut butter showing) is called a "buckeye." Not a "buck I" as thought by my Illinoisan roommate (luv ya grl lolz), but a buckeye. Try one. They're really good.

sources:
http://www.osu.edu/O-H-I-O/
http://www.50states.com/bio/nickname4.htm

p.s. Bonus points go to the first person who knows which language the title of this post comes from and what it means!