21 August 2026
To all our Nebraska Mesonet Supporters, Professional Colleagues, and fellow weather enthusiasts:
We invite you to a Ribbon Cutting for the Nebraska Mesonet on UNL’s East Campus, September 23, 2026, at 3:00pm. Please join us to celebrate the completion of 35 new, state-of-the-art weather stations, funded by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. In addition, this event gives us a chance to acknowledge and thank ALL our supporters as we make progress toward providing Mesonet coverage within 12 miles of every Nebraskan. This celebration will be an excellent opportunity for both the public and professional colleagues from all fields to see and learn, in person, what a modern weather and soil observation station looks like and how the NE Mesonet operates.
We will gather at the NE Mesonet station on UNL’s East Campus (directions included, near the UNL Pollinator Garden), which serves as our flagship station, used for testing improvements to our network before they are deployed - and for educational purposes at UNL. Following my welcome, we will hear from several stakeholders. Refreshments will be provided, and you will have a chance to examine the Mesonet station up close and ask our Mesonet staff questions.
Invited speakers will include and represent:
- Dr. Jeffrey Gold, University of Nebraska President
- Dr. Katherine Ankerson, Interim Chancellor of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln
- Lt. Col. Natalie Mallue, USACE Omaha District, Deputy Commander
- USDA Farm Service Agency
- Nebraska Senator Jason Prokop
- Nebraska Forest Service
- Upper Elkhorn Natural Resource District
- NE Emergency Management Agency
- University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Omaha National Weather Service
- National Drought Mitigation Center – UNL
- Ken Herz, former President, Nebraska Cattlemen
This is a public event - invite colleagues to join you. We ask that you RSVP here to help us plan seating and refreshments. https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/hwWFQp5k2q.
Click here for event agenda.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ruben Behnke
Director, Nebraska Mesonet
rbehnke2@unl.edu