$header = "California:" if $field =~ /California_c/;
   $header = "Oregon:" if $field =~ /Oregon_o/;
   $header = "Utah:" if $field =~ /Utah_u/;

##</code><code>##

%states = (
   'California_c' => 'California',
   'Oregon_o'     => 'Oregon',
   'Utah_h'       => 'Utah',
   ...
);

...

   $header = $states{$field} . ':';

##</code><code>##

   $header = $field;
   $header =~ s/_[a-z]+$//;
   $header .= ':';