MSU President's Column for Traill County Tribune

August 19, 2017

Farmers Bowl is just around the corner!

 

The fall activities have begun, and that means it’s nearly Farmers Bowl time! Farmers Bowl is an all-day celebration coordinated by the MSU Foundation that honors our proud agricultural heritage. We are thrilled to have Comet Connections sponsors, Gate City Bank, Moore Engineering of West Fargo, and Riddle’s Jewelry of Grand Forks, backing this important event. Their support means even greater benefits to Mayville State University and its students via the funds raised.

The university and community will celebrate Farmers Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 9. Now in its 23rd consecutive year, the Farmers Bowl will feature the “Farmers Bowl Field Frenzy 5K” Run/Walk, a parade, a Comets football game, and spirited bidding at the auction. We look forward to celebrating the annual occasion with you!

You can also take part in a couple of community activities happening in addition to the Mayville State-sponsored events. Start the day at the annual French toast breakfast at the Mayville Fire Hall. Breakfast will be served from 6 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9. Freewill donations to support the fire department will be accepted. There will also be a farmers market at Mayville’s Island Park from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on that day.

The Farmers Bowl 5K run/walk course starts at 8 a.m. in front of Old Main. The race course goes through the Mayville State campus. Cost is $20 per person and is free for MSU student with university ID. Participants may pick up packets at the MSU Wellness Center at 7:15 a.m. on Sept. 9. You may register at www.mayvillestate.edu/farmersbowl or by emailing asaptrainer1@gmail.com. If emailing, please provide name, address, age, and phone number.   

The Farmers Bowl parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. It will begin north of the Goose River Bank, make its way through town, and end near Jerome Berg Field on the MSU campus.

Come out and support the football team in the Farmers Bowl game! The Comets will face Sterling College beginning at 1 p.m. at Jerome Berg Field. This will be the first home game of the season and a great opportunity to see Sean Thom and his Comets in action.

The auction, the grand finale for the day, begins at 5 p.m. Your $30 ticket entitles you to a social featuring an hors d’oeuvres buffet at the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room. Bidding on the silent auction items will also begin at that time, and the excitement of the live auction will be unleashed at seven o’clock. Long-time Farmers Bowl volunteer auctioneer Wayne Trottier of Northwood will keep things moving.

You could win $500 just for attending the Farmers Bowl Auction! Mayville native and Mayville State graduate Lindsey Brown, with Pifer’s Auction & Realty has made a $500 donation that will be available in a door prize drawing. All who have purchased admission tickets for the Farmers Bowl Auction will be entered into the drawing for the $500.

Another highlight of the evening will be the heads and tails game. Everyone who plays will have a chance to win a custom made Comets neon sign! Thank you to Doug Petersen and Citizens Insurance Agency of Finley, Cooperstown, and Northwood for sponsoring this great Farmers Bowl Auction prize.

Auction purchases are a very important part of the celebration because they create new opportunities for many deserving students through scholarships and other awards. We are grateful for every dollar raised, so I encourage all who attend to bid high and often! If you are interested in donating an item to be auctioned at the event, please contact the MSU Foundation at 701-788-4864 or alumni.mail@mayvillestate.edu. Please act quickly! The deadline to submit an item is Tuesday, Aug. 22.

On behalf of Mayville State University and our students, I say “thank you” to Leah Larson, chair of the Farmers Bowl committee, and to all the committee members, Rick Karboviak, Lori Nelson, Doug Anderson, Danielle Soholt, Dave Moeller, Mandi Evans, Mindy O’Connor, Rhonda Nelson, Ann Willeson, Ashley VandeVeen, Samantha Thom, Dena Bergstrom, and Beth Swenson. Their hard work and commitment is making a difference not only for our university and its students, but also for our community. If you have an opportunity to thank them, please do.

Go to www.mayvillestate.edu/farmersbowl to learn more about the Farmers Bowl and purchase your auction admission ticket. (Admission tickets are also available at the MSU Foundation office (701-788-4864), May-Port Hardware Hank, the MSU Bookstore, Soholt Bakery, and the MSU Foundation office.) While you are perusing the site, you will notice your opportunity to help support the fund-raising aspect of Farmers Bowl. Participate in the Farmers Bowl Cash Drawing for a chance to win $1,000 cash. You can also purchase a chance to win an original watercolor painting, titled “Rockin’ Comets,” painted and donated by MSU alumnus Doug Anderson. Mayville State graduate Kelly Morrison has donated the cost of framing the piece. Check this out today and join us for the Farmers Bowl on Sept. 9!