Minnesota is back at it again with their quirky tradition of christening snowplows, and this time the Department of Transportation is putting the power in the people's hands. The state has whittled down a whopping 8,000 submissions for their annual Name a Snowplow contest, and now it's up to residents to pick the winners from the top 50 finalists, with the polls open through Sunday, Jan. 28, as reported by KAALTV.com.
Voters have until the end of the week to make their selections, with limitations set at one vote per person, and the ability to choose up to eight names. The stakes are high, with the top eight earning the honor of being emblazoned on the fleet's newest additions, one for each MnDOT district, a practice now in its fourth year, based on the information provided by CBS News Minnesota.
The eclectic mix of contestants includes names that run the gamut from pop culture nods like "Taylor Drift" and "Beyonsleigh," to whimsical entries such as "Below Zero Hero" and "Plower Power." This isn't just a cold competition of wits, as past titles like "Blizzo" and "Plow Bunyan" have shown that Minnesota knows how to keep things lighthearted even in the thick of winter's relentless grip.
The contest is more than a chance for a chuckle in the chill, as in previous years, MnDOT staffers have named three snowplows inspired by Indigenous languages - including "Giiwedin-The North Wind", and "Waipahiƞte", a Dakota word for "snowplow," symbolizing a nod to the heritage of the tribal lands they services, as stated by KAALTV.com.
