When measurable amounts of snow fall in the Pierre and Fort Pierre area the rest of this winter (2025), people will likely get to see “Capital Drift” helping to clear snow from state highways.
Ms. Amber Stout’s Jefferson Elementary School 3rd Grade Class in Pierre submitted the name in the South Dakota Department of Transportation’s snowplow naming contest and the group got to meet the plow Tuesday (Feb. 4, 2025).
Jason Humphrey is a Pierre Region Engineer with SDDOT.
Along with having some fun, Humphrey says the students learn about snowplows and the important work the machines do.
Humphrey says SD511– whether it be the website, phone call or mobile app– is a free tool people can use to check road conditions in the winter.
Capital Drift will be clearing state roadways north of Pierre and around the Oahe Dam.
The list of all of the winning names in 2024-25 contest are:
Mobridge Area: Polar Plow;
Pierre Area: Capital Drift;
Winner Area: Thaw Patrol;
Aberdeen Area: Thaw Enforcement;
Belle Fourche Area: Salty;
Custer Area: Plowy;
Huron Area: Plowabunga;
Mitchell Area: Clear-a-Patha;
Rapid City Area: Albert Icestein;
Sioux Falls Area: Frost and Flurrious;
Watertown Area: Hans Snowlo; and
Yankton Area: Catch My Drifts.
SDDOT says all previously named snowplows are in still being used within their snowplow fleet across the state.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
Photo credit to Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
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