Here you go. ;) aka Ratibida pinnata, Prairie Coneflower, Yellow Coneflower.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Grayhead Coneflower

I was told when the seeds were ready you could rub the cones and the seeds would fall off. The cones are black and dry. But they are hard as rocks. I have to break them open and pull the seeds off. Is this because of the dry weather?

You might be talking about two different flowers. Ratibida is a elongated grey cone when ready that crumbles into your hand. You probably have a rudbeckia which is a whole nother animal. In that case, the small greyer splinters fall out from the cone when tapped leaving much of the cone in place.

Rudbeckia = splinters
Ratibida - disks looking like backbones.

bakemon The Missouri conservation site said it was grayhead coneflower ratibida pinnata. I sent them pictures to identify it for me. Would you like for me to send you a cone so that you can see what I'm talking about?
The cone does have little black "pricklies" on it that come off easily but when you break the cones apart they look like elongated seeds also.

I'm scratching my head. Anyone else? Interesting question. We'll figure it out.