Organizers at the Nebraska State Fair on Saturday installed a bench engraved with the name of longtime meteorologist Kent Boughton, giving the broadcaster a permanent place at an event he covered for decades. The bench was placed along State Fair Boulevard near the Welcome Center and Agtivity Acres, the fair announced during an afternoon memorial.
Remembering a familiar voice
Boughton, 69, who died in late July after a battle with cancer, was a familiar figure in Central Nebraska broadcasting for more than five decades. At the memorial, family members, former colleagues and fair staff recalled his presence on television and his frequent appearances at the fairgrounds.
His widow, Marcie Ryan-Boughton, described the connection he had with viewers who relied on him for weather information and reassurance.
“He was in their living rooms for almost, gosh, 54 years he was a broadcaster. So people in the Central Nebraska Area, [he] was their go-to whenever there was a storm,”
Those who worked with Boughton said his personality and work ethic defined his career. Michelle Dowse, a former NTV employee, remembered him as both funny and compassionate when the cameras were off.
“Kent always could make you laugh. Didn't matter what was going on. His sense of humor was through the roof,”
Dowse added that alongside his humor was a deep care for viewers and coworkers, calling him “Mr. Larger Than Life” because of his big personality paired with humility.
Boughton and the State Fair
The fair has been a recurring assignment for Boughton; he frequently broadcast live from the grounds and attended when possible to cover the attractions, rides and the people who make the event a summertime tradition. In 2017, the fair memorialized Boughton’s late wife, Lori, with a tree on the grounds. The bench dedicated Saturday sits temporarily under that tree, creating what family members described as a full-circle tribute.
Marcie Ryan-Boughton said the bench gives the family and fairgoers a place to reflect and remember a broadcaster who often stayed up through severe weather events to keep Nebraskans informed.
Details of the dedication
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Kent Boughton |
| Age | 69 |
| Location | State Fair Blvd., near the Welcome Center and Agtivity Acres |
| Dedication | Bench engraved with his name, placed under the memorial tree for Lori |
Those attending the dedication spoke of Boughton’s dedication to his craft and the community. Whether he was on the air warning of approaching storms or singing on camera while covering fair activities, colleagues said he brought energy and warmth to his work.
- Decades on air: Boughton spent roughly 54 years as a broadcaster in Central Nebraska.
- Community presence: He regularly covered the Nebraska State Fair and trusted viewers for weather updates.
- Memorial placement: The bench sits under a tree previously dedicated to his late wife.
The bench will remain on the grounds as a visible reminder of Boughton’s ties to the fair and the region he served for more than half a century. Family members and former colleagues said they hope visitors will pause there to remember not only his broadcasts but the manner in which he engaged with the community.
Because the dedication took place at a public state fair event, it offered both longtime viewers and newer attendees a chance to say goodbye in person to a figure many Nebraskans regarded as a steady, calming presence during severe weather and a familiar face at summer festivities.
The Nebraska State Fair’s placement of the bench continues a tradition of memorializing those who have left a lasting mark on the event and the broader community it serves.
