It’s Minnesota’s turn to name their snowplows

(Andrew Krueger – MPRnews) – With a fresh coating of snow across northern Minnesota and subzero cold on the way statewide, it’s an apt time for the launch of the state Department of Transportation’s annual Name a Snowplow contest.

MnDOT announced Tuesday that its plow-naming event is back for a fifth year.

The contest offers people the chance to submit ideas and eventually vote to pick eight winners — with those winning names going on plows in each of MnDOT’s eight districts around the state.

MnDOT says people can submit “their most witty, unique and Minnesota- or winter-themed snowplow name ideas” from now through noon on Dec. 20.

Contest rules include:

• One submission per person
• Names are limited to no more than 30 characters (including spaces)
• No profanity or inappropriate language
• No politically inspired names
• No repeats of past years’ winning names

Once the submission period closes, MnDOT staff will pick finalists to be voted on by the public in January.

Past MnDOT Name a Snowplow contest winners

Winter 2020-21

• Plowy McPlowFace
• Ope, Just Gonna Plow Right Past Ya
• Duck Duck Orange Truck
• Plow Bunyan
• Snowbi Wan Kenobi
• F. Salt Fitzgerald
• Darth Blader
• The Truck Formerly Known As Plow

Winter 2021-22

• Betty Whiteout
• Ctrl Salt Delete
• The Big Leplowski
• Plowasaurus Rex
• Scoop Dogg
• Blizzard of Oz
• No More Mr. Ice Guy
• Edward Blizzardhands

Winter 2022-23

• Yer a Blizzard, Harry
• Blizzo
• Clearopathtra
• Better Call Salt
• Han Snowlo
• Blader Tot Hotdish
• Scoop! There it is
• Sleetwood Mac

Winter 2023-24

• Taylor Drift
• Clark W. Blizzwald
• Dolly Plowton
• Waipahiƞte (Dakota word for “snowplow”)
• Beyonsleigh
• You’re Killin’ Me Squalls
• Fast and Flurrious
• Barbie’s Dream Plow