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Minnesota News
Andrew Krueger

Name a Snowplow contest: MnDOT issues annual call for a flurry of ideas

A snowplow is named Barbie's Dream Plow.
New snowplow names, including "Barbie's Dream Plow" are revealed at a Minnesota Department of Transportation press conference last January. Nominations are now being accepted for this winter's contest.
Ellie Roth | MPR News file

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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.

Plowy McPlowFace
Plowy McPlowFace was one of the winning entries in MnDOT's first "Name a Snowplow" contest.
MnDOT

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