The first of six characters to be played by Ken Curtis in this series. The character "Festus" would be introduced once in season eight. In season nine, Curtis would play one more character early in that season; then he was Festus for 298 episodes over the next 11 years, to the end of the series.
This broadcast is notable for the appearance of Ken Curtis, before his Festus Haggen days, together with Dennis Weaver as Chester Goode, whom Curtis would go on to replace later in the series.
The title refers to Jayhawkers, who were abolitionists during the pre-Civil War days of Bloody Kansas. Now they just use the term for anyone from Kansas. The University of Kansas uses the Jayhawk as its mascot.
In the opening conversation between Chester and Matt, viewers learn that Chester lived in Texas for several years.