Nebraska State Nickname: The Cornhusker State
Fact-checked • Updated December 10, 2025
"The Cornhusker State"
Also Known As:
About the Nickname The Cornhusker State
Nebraska became known as the Cornhusker State when the legislature officially adopted this name in 1945. The Nebraska nickname came from the University of Nebraska athletic teams, who started using Cornhuskers in 1900. Before machines existed to harvest corn, workers removed husks from corn ears by hand, a job called cornhusking.
Meaning of 'The Cornhusker State'
A cornhusker was someone who picked and husked corn in fields before mechanical harvesters existed. Early Nebraska settlers grew massive amounts of corn across the plains after the Homestead Act of 1862 brought farmers westward. Workers could earn up to five dollars per day husking corn in the early 1900s, which was significant money for rural farmworkers at that time.
Sportswriter Charles S. Sherman from the Lincoln newspaper created the Cornhuskers name in 1900 for University of Nebraska teams. Sherman disliked the previous team nickname Bugeaters and wanted something better. Iowa had used Cornhuskers occasionally, but Iowans preferred Hawkeyes, so Sherman adopted it for Nebraska instead. The name caught on with fans immediately.
What is Nebraska nickname in official terms? The 1945 Legislature repealed the previous Tree Planters' State designation and made Cornhusker State the legal name. Nebraska license plates displayed Cornhusker State from 1969 to 1975. Corn remains Nebraska's most important crop today, with more farmland dedicated to it than any other produce, and the state ranks third nationally for corn production.
Other Nicknames
Tree Planters' State
Nebraska carried Tree Planters' State as its official name from 1895 until 1945. Early settlers planted millions of trees as windbreaks to protect crops, reduce soil erosion, and shelter livestock from harsh prairie winds. When settlers arrived in the mid-1800s, Nebraska had about one million acres of trees. That number doubled to two million acres thanks to extensive planting efforts. J. Sterling Morton of Nebraska City founded Arbor Day on April 10, 1872, and residents planted over one million trees on that first celebration. John MacMurphy, secretary of the Nebraska Territorial Pioneers Association, led a successful campaign to make Tree Planters' State the official designation because he wanted to replace less flattering nicknames like Bugeaters.
Beef State
Nebraska earned this name because of its enormous cattle industry. The state maintains about two million head of beef cows, making beef production one of Nebraska's largest economic activities. Nebraska license plates carried Beef State from the mid-1950s through the mid-1960s, though the legislature never made it an official nickname. Corn and cattle work together in Nebraska's economy because corn feeds the beef cattle that graze across the state. Ranchers appreciate the nickname because it recognizes agriculture beyond just crops.
Bugeater State
This was Nebraska's most common nickname during the late 1800s before Cornhuskers replaced it. The name probably started during the grasshopper invasions of the 1870s, when massive swarms destroyed crops across the plains. According to historical accounts, an easterner visited Nebraska and joked that residents were eating bugs to survive after grasshoppers ate all the crops. The story spread through newspapers as humor. The University of Nebraska football teams used Bugeaters throughout the 1890s. Bull bats that ate insects across the prairie at night may have also contributed to the nickname. Most Nebraskans disliked being called Bugeaters despite appreciating its rugged character.
Interesting Facts
Fact 1 of 6
The Nebraska nickname and motto both appear on the state seal, which was adopted on June 15, 1867.
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Official historical resource documenting Nebraska's various nicknames including Cornhusker State, Tree Planters' State, Bugeaters, and their origins
Comprehensive article covering Nebraska's history, agriculture, and how the Cornhusker State nickname developed from university athletics