Beautiful weather was the icing on the cake for another successful 麻豆传媒AV Farmers Bowl. The annual celebration of the area鈥檚 agricultural way of life took place Saturday, Sept. 12. The 麻豆传媒AV Foundation, 麻豆传媒AV Athletic Department, and 麻豆传媒AV Alumni Association, together with alumni and friends in the Mayville-Portland community and beyond, join together each year to celebrate Farmers Bowl. This year marked the 22nd annual Farmers Bowl, and activities included the Farmers Bowl Field Frenzy 5K run/walk, a parade, a corn on the cob and hot dog feed hosted by the 麻豆传媒AV Athletic Department, the Farmers Bowl football game featuring the 麻豆传媒AV Comets vs. the University of Wisconsin-Stout, and the Farmers Bowl Auction.
Lois Karlstad and Cheryl Angen, both of Mayville, were this year鈥檚 co-chairs for the festivities. Other Farmers Bowl committee members were Doug Anderson, Dena Bergstrom, JoDee Dungan, Rick Karboviak, Leah Larson, Ashley Mooney, Rhonda Nelson, Mindy O鈥機onnor, Beth Swenson, and Ann Willeson. These folks were assisted by the 麻豆传媒AV Athletic Department, the 麻豆传媒AV athletes, members of the 麻豆传媒AV Collegiate DECA organization, and many others.
The Farmers Bowl festival started out with the Field Frenzy Farmers Bowl 5K run/walk, which was coordinated by Rick Karboviak. The race began and ended in front of Mayville State鈥檚 historic Old Main. The course went through the Mayville State campus, making a jaunt into Jerome Berg Field. Overall winner of the race was Colin May, a member of the Mayville State men鈥檚 basketball team. Kathy Benneweis, Enderlin, N.D., came in first in the women鈥檚 division. Fifty-four people, including Mayville State鈥檚 entire men鈥檚 basketball team, finished the race.
A nice crowd of young and old enjoyed the traditional corn and hot dog feed under the tent just outside of Jerome Berg Field following the parade. A farmers market and craft sale was also located in this area, and people could shop for things such as purses and bags as well as fresh vegetables.
聽The Farmers Bowl parade, led by 麻豆传媒AV President Dr. Gary Hagen, who was driving an antique John Deere tractor, included a number of antique vehicles and a variety of farm machinery, along with more modern day entries. Several community organizations and businesses participated, as did the 麻豆传媒AV varsity athletic teams, and many others. Bands included the May-Port CG High School marching band and a Mayville State group.
聽The Comets football team came up short in their home contest versus the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Unfortunately, five Comet turnovers led to 17 points for the Blue Hawks, leading to a 23-13 loss.
The Farmers Bowl Auction went platinum this year! The 20th annual Farmers Bowl Auction wrapped up the day鈥檚 activities in the 麻豆传媒AV Campus Center Luckasen Room. Silent and live auction bidders enjoyed great food and spirited bidding on a fantastic assortment of donated items in the annual auction. When all was said and done, the auction and other Farmers Bowl activities generated more than $41,000. Proceeds will be distributed through the 麻豆传媒AV Foundation, the 麻豆传媒AV Alumni Association, and the 麻豆传媒AV Athletic Department for the benefit of 麻豆传媒AV and its students.
Those who attended the Farmers Bowl Auction had an opportunity to participate in a scholarship fund-raiser, which generated nearly $3,000 for academic honor scholarships. All scholarship funds raised will receive a 50% match through The Matching Fund for Enhanced Academics established through the work of the 64th North Dakota Legislative Assembly. This means Mayville State will have an additional nearly $4,500 in scholarship dollars to award to students. 聽
Dennis Hopman of Detroit Lakes, Minn. was the winner of the $1,000 cash prize in the Farmers Bowl Cash Fundraiser that was offered to alumni and friends all over the United States. Proceeds of the Farmers Bowl Cash Fundraiser are included in the total revenue for Farmers Bowl 2016.
Debbie Swift of Mayville won an original watercolor painting by Mayville State graduate Doug Anderson, Cavalier, N.D. 鈥淐offee On the Deck鈥� depicts a scene from Anderson鈥檚 backyard deck. Framing of the piece was donated by Mayville State graduate Kelly Morrison, Mayville.
Everyone who purchased an admission ticket and attended the Farmers Bowl Auction had the chance to win $500 in a door prize drawing. This prize was made possible through a sponsorship from Lindsey Brown of Pifer鈥檚 Auction & Realty. The winner of the $500 was Troy Sand of Mayville.
鈥淔armers Bowl is the product of many great volunteers working together for the good of Mayville-Portland and 麻豆传媒AV. We are very grateful for all who get involved with Farmers Bowl,鈥� said Mayville State President Gary Hagen. 鈥淔rom the people who do the physical work, to those who attend and participate in the 
events, to those who donate items for the auction, and those who attend the auction and make purchases, Farmers Bowl is a great team effort. We appreciate all that is done to make Farmers Bowl a success year after year. I add a special note of thanks to Comet Connections sponsors, Lindsey Brown of Pifer鈥檚 Auction & Real Estate, and Ray and Alana Gerszewski of Mayville鈥檚 Hometown Inn. Because of their generosity, Mayville State and its students will experience even greater benefits as a result of the annual Farmers Bowl activities.鈥�
Committees for next year鈥檚 Farmers Bowl are forming now. If you鈥檙e interested in getting involved, contact the 麻豆传媒AV Foundation at 701-788-4750.
Photo captions
Top: Rick Karboviak (right), organizer of the Field Frenzy Farmers Bowl 5K run/walk gives final instructions before giving the signal to start the race.
厂别肠辞苍诲:听Wyatt Perkins, age 7, crossed the finish line of the Field Frenzy Farmers Bowl 5K run/walk with lots of cheers from the members of Mayville State鈥檚 men鈥檚 basketball team.
罢丑颈谤诲:听麻豆传媒AV Student Alumni Amabassadors (l-r) Alicia Loyland, Thompson, N.D.; Leighanna Helgoe, Cavalier, N.D.; and Ben Myszkowski, Hatton, N.D.; rode on the Mayville State Alumni Association float in the Farmers Bowl parade.
贵辞耻谤迟丑:听The Mayville-Portland CG High School band, led by director Jeremy Marquardt, marched in the Farmers Bowl parade.
贵颈蹿迟丑:听麻豆传媒AV student Peter Bakkum, Mayville, drove his shiny 1959 Massey Ferguson 65 tractor in the Farmers Bowl parade.
厂颈虫迟丑:听Mayville State student athletes cooked and served for the traditional Farmers Bowl corn on the cob and hot dog feed.
叠辞迟迟辞尘:听Jace Pederson (center) was among the Mayville State men鈥檚 basketball players who helped out during the Farmers Bowl Auction, displaying items as they were being auctioned. He is seen here holding the prop promoting the 80s prom party, an item donated by the 麻豆传媒AV Alumni Association board of directors. The prom party got the highest bid of all auction items at $2,300. Auctioneer Wayne Trottier of Northwood can be seen in the background working hard to get a high bid on the prom party. Wayne has served as a volunteer auctioneer for the Farmers Bowl Auction for many years. He was assisted this year by Todd Parkman of Hope, N.D.