Nebraskans are a pretty sensible bunch overall. We’re full of personality and fun, but we don’t tend to be particularly crazy as a whole. There are, however, some things we all do that might seem just a little weird to anyone who isn’t from here.
- We’ll stop anywhere, anytime, to have a conversation.
flickr/Lana Stewart Even if it’s in the middle of the street. One of the most iconic small town Nebraska sights is two cars stopped in the road, going opposite directions, with the drivers just chatting away. And it’s not a big deal because they’re the only two cars out anyway.
- Even if we don’t know you, we’ll launch into long conversations with you.
flickr/Andrey Hey, you’re shopping for the same kind of bread as us? Great! Let’s talk about our jobs and family histories for half an hour!
- We yell “GO BIG RED” at people who wear red.
flickr/Dontae Rockymore We just assume they’re wearing that sweatshirt because they’re Husker supporters. And if we’re wrong, well, we’ve probably just made a new friend.
- We tailgate for hours.
flickr/Kyle Murphy Yep, standing around in a parking lot, grilling meat, drinking beer, and goofing around with friends is our definition of a good time.
- We don’t keep track of severe weather on TV…we go out and see it firsthand.
flickr/sgtgary If you’re not out in the storm, watching the awesome clouds and powerful rain, you’re really missing out. Outside is where the best views are.
- We drive right down the middle of the road.
flickr/Overduebook As long as we’re out in the country, that is. It just feels better to drive right in the middle of dirt and gravel roads - but we’ll move over when someone is coming from the other way, of course.
- We’ll stop to help a stranger anytime, anywhere.
flickr/Alex Proimos Last year when my car broke down in a parking lot, five people got out of three cars to come help. The same thing has happened whenever I’ve broken down - but Nebraskans are happy to help anytime, not just when cars are involved.
- We eat cinnamon rolls with our chili.
flickr/Alan The spiciness of the chili is perfectly complemented by the sweetness of the cinnamon roll. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
- We have entire freezers dedicated to deer meat.
flickr/Cowgirl Jules Lots of Nebraskans have an “extra” freezer in the garage or basement for all that deer meat we either bring home from hunting trips or get from friends and family after they go hunting. And those meat freezers ensure we never go hungry.
- We make pilgrimages to go birdwatching.
flickr/Diana Robinson Every year when the sandhill cranes come through, scores of Nebraskans make the trip to the Platte River to take in the amazing sight. And it’s truly worth it.
- We do the farmer wave to every car or person we see while driving in the country.
flickr/dornorozeto There’s always some debate about whether it’s one finger or two fingers. I grew up in a small rural Nebraska town and I still spend plenty of time in rural Nebraska, and I can confirm that both are used pretty equally.
We don’t think these things are all that crazy, but to outsiders we can sometimes seem a little kooky. That’s ok with us, because that’s just who we are as Nebraskans.
flickr/Lana Stewart
Even if it’s in the middle of the street. One of the most iconic small town Nebraska sights is two cars stopped in the road, going opposite directions, with the drivers just chatting away. And it’s not a big deal because they’re the only two cars out anyway.
flickr/Andrey
Hey, you’re shopping for the same kind of bread as us? Great! Let’s talk about our jobs and family histories for half an hour!
flickr/Dontae Rockymore
We just assume they’re wearing that sweatshirt because they’re Husker supporters. And if we’re wrong, well, we’ve probably just made a new friend.
flickr/Kyle Murphy
Yep, standing around in a parking lot, grilling meat, drinking beer, and goofing around with friends is our definition of a good time.
flickr/sgtgary
If you’re not out in the storm, watching the awesome clouds and powerful rain, you’re really missing out. Outside is where the best views are.
flickr/Overduebook
As long as we’re out in the country, that is. It just feels better to drive right in the middle of dirt and gravel roads - but we’ll move over when someone is coming from the other way, of course.
flickr/Alex Proimos
Last year when my car broke down in a parking lot, five people got out of three cars to come help. The same thing has happened whenever I’ve broken down - but Nebraskans are happy to help anytime, not just when cars are involved.
flickr/Alan
The spiciness of the chili is perfectly complemented by the sweetness of the cinnamon roll. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
flickr/Cowgirl Jules
Lots of Nebraskans have an “extra” freezer in the garage or basement for all that deer meat we either bring home from hunting trips or get from friends and family after they go hunting. And those meat freezers ensure we never go hungry.
flickr/Diana Robinson
Every year when the sandhill cranes come through, scores of Nebraskans make the trip to the Platte River to take in the amazing sight. And it’s truly worth it.
flickr/dornorozeto
There’s always some debate about whether it’s one finger or two fingers. I grew up in a small rural Nebraska town and I still spend plenty of time in rural Nebraska, and I can confirm that both are used pretty equally.
There are also some things we just won’t do, though – like these 13 things no self-respecting Nebraskan would ever do.
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