Lincoln, Neb. —A retirement reception for Michael Kocher, associate professor of biological systems engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. on Oct. 29 in the East Campus Union in Great Plains Room B-C.
A registered professional engineer, Kocher earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a doctoral degree from Oklahoma State University, all in agricultural engineering. Kocher first worked in the agricultural engineering department at Nebraska as an extension assistant from August 1979 through July 1983 before leaving to pursue a doctorate. Kocher also served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1986 through 1992. After a four-year stint on the biological and agricultural engineering faculty at the University of Arkansas, Kocher joined Nebraska faculty in August 1990.
Kocher made significant contributions to biological systems engineering teaching programs and most recently taught courses in power and machinery principles, power systems design, and equipment and tractor testing. He is co-author with John S. Cundiff of “Fluid Power Circuits and Controls: Fundamentals and Applications, 2nd Edition,” which was released in December 2019.
The bulk of Kocher’s research has focused on instrumentation for rapid evaluation of planter seed spacing performance, testing methods for tractor performance, and logistics and economics of biomass harvesting. As a member and chair of the Nebraska Board of Tractor Test Engineers, Mike helped develop new procedures, analyses, and reports of tractor performance, which contributed to international tractor testing codes. He has also worked for several years with the committee that develops the professional engineering exam for agricultural and biological engineering. Kocher has received numerous honors and awards during his career and he has obtained a U.S. patent.
During his retirement, Mike and his wife, Jodi, are looking forward to spending more time with their four children, including fishing during the summer with extended family at their lake cabin in Minnesota. Kocher is also looking forward to more time outdoors hunting Nebraska’s plentiful wildlife.
The reception is open to the campus community and for those who are unable to attend in person it can be viewed on-line at: https://ianrmedia.unl.edu/live-2 Contributions to a book of letters congratulating Mike on his retirement may be sent to Christel Burgason at cburgason2@unl.edu.