FEBRUARY 9, 2024:
Before the winter is over, people in the Philip area will likely get to see “Blade of Glory” helping to clear snow from state highways.
Cherie Herrman of Pierre submitted the name in the South Dakota Department of Transportation’s naming contest and got to meet the plow yesterday (Feb. 8, 2024).
Along with having some fun, Pierre Region Engineer Jason Humphrey says the naming contest gets people thinking about snowplows and the important work they do.
SD511– whether it be the website, phone service or mobile app– is a tool many people use to check road conditions in the winter. Department of Transportation Secretary Joel Jundt says it’s the SDDOT snowplow drivers inputting much of the information.
SDDOT received over 650 entries from individuals, families, classrooms, senior living centers and businesses across the state. Department staff voted on the submissions.
In March, each of this year’s newly named plows will face off in sporting event-like brackets to determine the most popular name of this year’s entries.
Other 2023-24 winning snowplow names are:
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Mobridge Area: Snow Crusher (Submitted by: Crystal Sayler)
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Winner Area: Clearapathera (Submitted by: Kristie Hemming)
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Aberdeen Area: Snow Boss (Submitted by: Mark Krage)
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Belle Fourche Area: Not my First Snowdeo (Submitted by: Merida Smith)
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Custer Area: Snow-key the Bear (Submitted by: Brady Chase – Mr. Chase’s 3rd Grade Classroom)
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Huron Area: Saltosaurus Rex (Submitted by: Lindsay Boomsma)
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Mitchell Area: Plow Bunyan (Submitted by: Justus Baxter)
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Rapid City Area: Scoop! There it is! (Submitted by: Pete Stevenson)
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Sioux Falls Area: South-Da-Snow-Ta (Submitted by: Jenna Welbig)
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Watertown Area: Frostimus Prime (Submitted by: Chelsea Brink – Mrs. Brink’s Advisory at Watertown High School)
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Yankton Area: Salt, Rattle, & Roll (Submitted by: Michael Benson)
Blade of Glory.
Photo credit Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Blade of Glory.
Photo credit Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
DECEMBER 28, 2023:
The votes have been tallied and the winners of the South Dakota Department of Transportation’s fourth annual snowplow naming contest have been revealed.
SDDOT received over 650 entries from individuals, families, classrooms, senior living centers and businesses across the state. Department staff voted on the submissions.
In the central part of the state, the winning names are:
- Mobridge Area: Snow Crusher (Submitted by: Crystal Sayler)
- Pierre Area: Blade of Glory (Submitted by: Cherie Herrman)
- Winner Area: Clearapathera (Submitted by: Kristie Hemming)
Transportation Secretary Joel Jundt says the annual Name the Snowplow Contest was created to engage people across the state in winter driving safety and preparedness. He says his department encourages travelers to use SD511 resources to make informed travel decisions during winter weather. SD511 information is accessible via website, mobile app or phone call.
Jundt says again this year, a substantial winter storm impact motorists in South Dakota during the Christmas holiday travel period. He thanks the SDDOT winter maintenance staff, as well as all of our public servants for their dedicated efforts to keep our roads clear and travelers safe during the long holiday weekend. Jundt also thanks all travelers who regularly use SD511 when making their travel decisions.
Other 2023-24 winning snowplow names are:
- Aberdeen Area: Snow Boss (Submitted by: Mark Krage)
- Belle Fourche Area: Not my First Snowdeo (Submitted by: Merida Smith)
- Custer Area: Snow-key the Bear (Submitted by: Brady Chase – Mr. Chase’s 3rd Grade Classroom)
- Huron Area: Saltosaurus Rex (Submitted by: Lindsay Boomsma)
- Mitchell Area: Plow Bunyan (Submitted by: Justus Baxter)
- Rapid City Area: Scoop! There it is! (Submitted by: Pete Stevenson)
- Sioux Falls Area: South-Da-Snow-Ta (Submitted by: Jenna Welbig)
- Watertown Area: Frostimus Prime (Submitted by: Chelsea Brink – Mrs. Brink’s Advisory at Watertown High School)
- Yankton Area: Salt, Rattle, & Roll (Submitted by: Michael Benson)
In January, the contest winners will officially meet and take photos with their locally named snowplow. Photos and local stories will be shared on the SDDOT contest page.
NOVEMBER 28, 2023:
Thursday (Nov. 30, 2023) is the submission deadline for the South Dakota Department of Transportation’s 4th annual Snowplow Naming Contest.
Pierre Area Engineer Dean VanDeWiele says the snowplow contest is a fun, yet purposeful, way to interact with the public.
Blizzard Buster was last year’s overall winning name. It’s based in the Sioux Falls region.
VanDeWiele says the Snowplow Naming Contest also seves as a way for SDDOT to encourage people to use winter weather related resources such as the SD511 website or the SD511 app.
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NOVEMBER 3, 2023:
The South Dakota Department of Transportation is accepting entries through the end of the month (Nov. 30, 2023) for its 4th annual snowplow naming contest.
Transportation Secretary Joel Jundt says over the past three winters, thousands of clever names have been submitted by classrooms, daycares, businesses, retirement communities and individuals throughout the state. He says the snowplow contest is a fun, yet purposeful, way to interact with the public to encourage usage of vital winter weather related resources such as SD511.
The public can find the official entry form and rules, along with previous contest winning names and photos, on the SDDOT website at https://dot.sd.gov. When the contest closes, SDDOT personnel will vote for their favorite entries. In December, the SDDOT will officially announce one named snowplow within each of the 12 SDDOT geographic areas.
Jundt says last winter, they took the snowplow naming contest to another level by having the public vote in a Blizzard Bracket in March and April. He says over 70,000 votes were cast while also providing SDDOT with additional opportunities to promote winter safety messaging during the prolonged winter season. Blizzard Buster, a plow named in the Sioux Falls Area, won the 2023 statewide championship. Also as part of the contest, SDDOT creates snowplow and winter driving awareness coloring sheets, crossword puzzles, and word finds for families and classrooms. Materials are available for download on the contest page.
Jundt encourages everyone to bookmark the SD511.org web site and to sign up for customized SD511 notifications. He says this free service allows people to receive text messages and/or email notifications about road closure updates and travel advisories along routes of their choice.
Patrick and Sarah Wellner of Pierre with Little Plow on the Prairie.
Feb. 9, 2023.
Photo credit DRG Media Group.
Mercy Howard of Pierre “met” the South Dakota Department of Transportation Pierre area plow that bares her winning name of “Snow Problemo.” (Winter 2021-22)
Photo credit DRG Media Group.
Jackie Heier submitted the name Lewis (plow) & Clark (tow plow) for the South Dakota Department of Transportation’s snowplow naming contest. (Winter 2020-21)
Photo credit DRG Media Group.
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