Gearing up for winter, Washington County is rolling out an interactive way for residents to engage with the seasonal battle against snow and ice. The county has invited locals to put their mark on the fleet by joining the "Name a Snowplow" contest for a second year. Participants can submit their suggestions via an online form that has been available since November 25, and it will remain open for entries until December 20. It's community engagement with a playful twist, as community members vie to stamp their creative mark on these indispensable machines of winter.
The process is simple: county staff will sift through the entries, excluding any names that feature profanity or other inappropriate language. They will then compile a list of the top ideas, advancing them to the next stage—an online public vote slated for January 2025. "Any submissions that include profanity or other inappropriate language will not be considered," states the Washington County, MN announcement on the contest. A sense of decorum, even in something as whimsical as naming a plow, is maintained.
This contest adds a layer of communal identity to the vehicles that become so crucial during the harsh winter months. Endowing these steel titans with names transforms them from mere municipal tools into characters within the narratives of the county's residents. In January, once the votes are cast, two winners will emerge, and they will likely capture the local lexicon with as much verve as any other term coined in the convivial corners of community life.
For those who wish to take part in this inventive tradition, your time is now. Full details on the snowplow naming contest, along with the entry form, can be found at the official Washington County website. Throw your creative hat into the ring, and come January, perhaps it will be your witty or heartfelt contribution that graces one of these indomitable plow's sides, offering a smidgen of joy to those who watch them clear the wintery streets.
