By Rich Larson
Rice County is inviting residents to put their creativity to work by helping name two of the county’s snowplows, joining a Minnesota tradition that has become a wintertime favorite across the state.
The county recently announced its first-ever Name a Snowplow Contest, giving residents a chance to submit witty, unique and Minnesota or winter-themed names for two of its oversized snow-clearing machines. Entries will be accepted through Aug. 17, 2026, and can be submitted through the county website at Rice County Name a Snowplow Contest.
The idea follows the success of the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s annual Name a Snowplow Contest, which has attracted thousands of submissions and voters in recent years. MnDOT’s latest contest received more than 6,750 name suggestions and drew nearly 19,000 votes, reflecting the widespread popularity of snowplow naming contests across Minnesota. MnDOT has hosted the contest for six years and now has dozens of named plows bearing titles such as “Plowy McPlowFace,” “Betty Whiteout” and “Taylor Drift.” [dot.state.mn.us], [mprnews.org]
County Highway Engineer Dennis Luebbe said the contest is about more than clever names.
“This contest promoting snow removal awareness in Rice County and Minnesota will be beneficial,” Luebbe said. “Millions of taxpayer dollars are spent every year to provide statewide snow removal services. Increased awareness of this critical service can benefit us all.”
The contest is open to Rice County residents ages 8 and older, with one submission allowed per person. Proposed names must be 30 characters or fewer, including spaces, and cannot contain vulgar or political content. In addition, names that have already won MnDOT’s statewide contests will not be considered.
After the contest closes, county staff will review the entries and select 10 finalists that meet contest guidelines. The public will then vote on those finalists in September, with the top two vote-getters declared the winners.
Winners are expected to be notified in mid- to late October and will be invited to pose for photos with the newly named plows. Those photos will be displayed in county buildings and featured on county social media channels.
For Rice County residents, it’s a chance to leave a lasting mark on the fleet that keeps local roads open during Minnesota’s long winters.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
