1. “Who’s Big Red?”

Nebraska Cornhuskers mascots stands on a football field.

Source: Flickr User beatboxbadhabit (cropped)

Most of the time when the term “Big Red” gets thrown around in this state, someone is probably talking about the Nebraska Cornhuskers athletic program. With a truly dominating football team capable of bringing 90,000 screaming fans to Memorial Stadium every single home game, it’s impossible not to cheer along with Herbie Husker when the team takes the field.

2. “What’s A Runza?”

A runza sandwich.

Source: Flickr User rayb777

One of the most delicious sandwiches in the country, a Runza is basically a tube of bread that’s filled with meat and other ingredients like cabbage. Not as messy as most meaty sandwiches, but with all the flavor, a Runza is pretty hard to beat.

3. “What’s Red Beer?”

A man in a thinking pose.

Source: Flickr User Marco Arment

Also commonly called “blood beer,” this is a popular drink in Nebraska. It’s basically your standard pitcher or pint of beer, but it’s topped with a layer of tomato juice that quickly mixes in. Don’t knock it until you try it.

4. “What’s An Aksarben?”

A woman confused by writing in a notebook.

Source: Flickr User CollegeDegrees360

While this word might look like it’s made up, it can be found all around the state on street signs and store names. Why you ask? It’s Nebraska spelled backwards. That’s pretty creative is you ask me.

5. “Is Everyone From Nebraska This Friendly?”

Girls with 'Free Hugs' signs.

Source: Flickr User still wanderer

A state that’s full of Midwest hospitality, Nebraskans are some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. Running into someone that’s rude around these parts is quite the rarity. Out-of-towners will definitely realize the general level of kindness that floats around these streets.

6. “Why Are You Always So Ready For A Road Trip?”

A child and woman sleep in the backseat of a car.

Source: Flickr User Lars Plougmann

Most Nebraskans have been secretly training for a road trip their entire life, simply by driving around their state. With tons of long, flat roads connecting sparsely populated areas, Nebraskans have perfected the art of staying entertained during long drives.

7. “Does Everything Around Here Get Deep Fried?”

A couple eating fried food a fair.

Source: Flickr User bhenak (cropped)

One quick and easy way to make anything taste better, Nebraskans are addicted to their deep-fryers. You can find anything from deep-fried macaroni and cheese to deep fried Nutella in this state.

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8. “Why Do You Keep Talking About The State Fair?”

People compete in a tractor race.

Source: Flickr User Visit Grand Island

There’s a reason that several hundred thousand people flock to this annual event in Grand Island. Typically lasting around 11 days, the Nebraska State Fair is home to enough fried food, people watching, and carnival games to last visitors for the entire year.

9. “Is That Cannon Shooting Out Hot Dogs?”

A man shoots hotdogs out of a cannon into a crowd.

Source: Wimmer’s Meats

A staple of Cornhusker football games, Der Viener Schlinger is capable of slinging wieners dozens of rows up to hungry fans. It’s sponsored by Wimmer’s Wieners, a Nebraska favorite when it comes to tubed meats.

10. “Is Nebraska Where Chimney Rock Is?”

A man points to a chimney rock formation.

Source: Flickr User Kables

Stretching close to 300 feet above its surroundings, Chimney Rock is one of the most recognizable natural attractions in the country. If someone knows one rock formation that’s in Nebraska, it’ll probably be this.

11. “Why Is Your Stonehenge Made Out Of Cars?”

A Stonehenge replica made from cars.

Source: Flickr User samirluther

America’s best known replica of England’s Stonehenge, Carhenge was built during someone’s Nebraskan family reunion in 1987. It consists of 38 cars stacked on top of each other, forming a large circle reminiscent to what can be seen overseas.

12. “Where’s Nebraska At Again?”

A map indicating Nebraska is in the United States of America.

Source: Flickr User Alex Bellink (edited)

A place that most Americans consider to be nothing more than a flyover state, a lot of people have no clue where it’s actually located, despite its recognizable shape. There’s a good chance most outsiders will know basically nothing about Nebraska except that it’s where Omaha is.

13. “It’s Always Cold There Right?”

A person bundled against cold weather.

Source: Flickr User meddygarnet

People seem to think Nebraska is farther north than it really is, assuming that it’s constantly in the state of being a frozen tundra. While winters can get brutal, this is far from the case. This state experiences four seasons, often all four on any given day.

14. “Is There Anything But Corn In Nebraska?”

A little girl eats corn.

Source: Flickr User stevendepolo

Nebraska definitely has a ton of cornfields, but that’s not the only thing in Nebraska…they grow other crops too. All jokes aside, while there is a ton of farmland in Nebraska making up most of the state, there’s also tons of natural and manmade attractions spread throughout Nebraska making it one of the more unique states in the Midwest.

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15. “Wait…Corn Flavored Ice Cream?”

A couple shares corn-flavored ice cream.

Source: Flickr User Alan Light

Thanks to the sheer amount of sweet corn that’s grown in the state, it’s possible to find nearly any food in Nebraska with some corn mixed into it, ranging from corn flavored ice-cream to lemonade with a hearty scoop of corn in the bottom.

16. “You Eat Chili With Cinnamon Rolls?”

An ad for chili and cinnamon rolls.

Source: Runza Restaurants via Facebook

This might seem like a strange combination, but after trying it once you’ll be sold. The spicy heat of the chili and the sweetness of the cinnamon roll really do come together to form a match made in heaven.

17. “What’s The Big Deal With Dorothy Lynch Dressing?”

A cartoon ad for Dorothy Lynch dressing.

Source: Dorothy Lynch via Facebook (cropped)

A regional favorite when it comes to condiments, Dorothy Lynch dressing is an all-purpose “dressing” makes anything taste better, whether it’s put on a salad, used as a dip, or sipped through a straw.

18. “Is The Steak Really That Good?”

A baby plays with a sausage.

Source: Flickr User jinglejammer

With over 20,000 beef cow operations and over 5 million cattle coming out of Nebraska every year soon to be burgers and steaks, you can bet your bottom dollar that this beef is the best in the country. Whether you’re buying it at the store or ordering out, bank on your Nebraskan slab of meat being one of the most succulent cuts you’ll ever find.

19. “Why Are They Called The Cornhuskers?”

Two little girls shuck corn.

Source: apbeatty

The inedible outside of a corn cob is called the husk and the action of taking it off is typically called either shucking or husking. With such a huge corn industry, there’s a rich history of cornhusking in the state of Nebraska, hence the nickname of the University of Nebraska athletic squads.

20. “How Could You Ever Live Somewhere So Landlocked?”

A father and daughter at the beach.

Source: Flickr User jakesmome

Nebraska might not have access to an ocean, but Lake McConaughy, locally known as Lake Mac, makes up for the lack of shoreline. Built on the edge of the Nebraska Sandhills, there’s tons of white sand, boating, and fishing in this area, making it perfect for a hot summer day.

21. “What Pro Teams Do You Cheer For?”

A Denver Bronco football player during a game.

Source: Flickr User Jeffrey Beall

One of 24 states without their own professional sports team, Nebraskans tend to either stick to just college sports or cheering for whatever professional organization is the closest. For instance, when you’re talking about the NFL, most people here will cheer for the DenverBroncos, while some pockets around the state still insist on rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs or the Green Bay Packers instead.

22. “Why Is Peyton Manning Always Shouting Omaha?”

Peyton Manning in a tuxedo.

Source: Flickr User jim.greenhill

Despite not having a connection to the city, Peyton Manning has made “OMAHA!!!” one of his most frequent pre-snap calls. It started out as a random word that he used, but after saying it dozens of times every game, every Peyton fan is now well aware that Omaha exists (though many won’t know what state it’s in).

23. “Why Would you Ever Live In Nebraska?”

The city during sunset.

Source: Flickr User kiszka king

To outsiders, Nebraska is just another cold and desolate flyover state in the Midwest. To anyone that’s actually been there, it’s so much more than that. With a great sense of community, delicious meat, and a mix of tiny rural areas and larger cities, Nebraska is one state that everyone should visit at some point in their life.
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