IN MINNESOTA, we’re not off to see The Wizard, but the blizzard. Or maybe we wish we were heading for the Emerald City. But the people have voted, and We’re Off to See the Blizzard topped the eight names selected for the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s annual Name a Snowplow Contest.
Polls closed last Friday with 23,400 people voting for up to eight names on a list of 50. That was narrowed from some 7,300 submissions.
A snowplow in my native southwestern Minnesota will now bear the name spun off from a line in “The Wizard of Oz” starring native Minnesotan Frances Gumm, aka Judy Garland. Her hometown of Grand Rapids (Minnesota, not Michigan) is located in MnDOT’s District 1 on the northeastern side of our state. A plow in that region will be tagged SKOL Plow, a tribute to the Scandinavian cheer chant for the Minnesota Vikings. That name came in at number seven in the polls.
Here in southeastern Minnesota, Plowbunga! will now mark one of MnDOT’s big orange snowplow trucks. Does that reference Cowabunga! of “The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” fame? I think so. My girls loved those cartoon superheroes, turtles in a half shell. Plowabunga! was the third top vote-getter.
Coming in second was Snowtorious B.I.G., which totally baffled me. So I googled and found connections to snow, drugs and sweaters.
Anthony Sledwards also had me stumped. Turns out Anthony Edwards is a star basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves. That explains it. I don’t watch sports. Travel in the Twin Cities metro and you will soon see Anthony Sledwards plowing snow.
The fifth and sixth place winners, You’re Welcome and Don’tcha Snow, honor Minnesota Speak, phrases (or versions of) spoken by Minnesotans. Don’tcha know?
Rounding out the top ten is I Came, I Thaw, I Conquered, which will go on a plow in District 7, South Central Minnesota.
So there you go. How did I do with my picks? Three of my eight choices—We’re Off to See the Blizzard, SKOL Plow and Catch My Drift (#9 and which I really really like)—finished in the top ten.
I’m not sayin’ take me to Jackpot Junction, Mystic Lake, Treasure Island or any other casino in Minnesota because I’m not that good at picking winners. But I am sayn’ this annual contest is a whole lot of fun and certainly breaks up a long Minnesota winter.
© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Love it. Sorry 0400 > as in AM. (I got a new 24 Hour clock so I know when it is AM or PM. You mentioned “The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” –
Our British cousins are so up tight – that in Britain – these guys are known as “Teenage Mutant Turtles. No Ninja – too violent and these are bad guys. Years ago, while up in Minnesota, my mother found a cassette tape (remember those?) that was on the same theme. Had us laughing al the way home. I found a sail boat (small day sailor nearby and fell almost in love with it. Like most boats this one had a name – also a graphic. The graphic was from crossed muscled arms up with a smiling masked face kinda like Batman with the boat’s name “Captain Moron.” Reminds me of some of my days sailing the Pacific Ocean. We had a motor break down going up to Del Mar from Oceanside. Wind out of the North blow South. Our sail was up – more for letting people know we were a sail boat (Not a fast mover like the local military LCACs as we present a low visible target to radar (which they use) and they travel around 50 MPH – we barely do 5 MPH. These may explain why we had an outboard motor powering us Northward to Del Mar. Prior to leaving port we noticed a 40 something USCG Aux sport Fly Fisherman doing exercises. So, we radioed them if they wanted to do a for real answer to a help call even though no ones lives were at risk. They did and then could not find us and radioed us for our location. We scanned the horizon in all directions – not a sailboat in sight. So we radioed back. “We are the ONLY sailboat we can see and we are on your Port (left) Beam!” A pause i the radio and then, “You guys Must have graduated Navigation – You are right where you said you would be!”. The rest o the story is worthy of a short story! As always – Blessings
I always learn something from you, Gunny. BTW, 4 AM is too early to be awake. Just sayin’. Sometimes I wake up at that time also, but then fall back asleep. Interesting story you share today.
Audrey, I wrote that at 4:00 AM, I had been up since about 1 and started cleaning house as I knew maid was going to be here at noon! LOL!
That’s way too early. Let your housecleaner clean!
so fun and love how many particpated!
This does garner a lot of interest. It’s fun and a good diversion from life.
Thanks for the update on the naming contest. When I first saw Snowtorious B.I.G I thought it was a reference to the Notorious R.B.G. The initials are different but I’m still going to think that it was a tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I’m probably wrong though as it likely refers to the rapper Notorious B.IG. who I was totally unfamiliar with until, like you, I googled it.
I did not know that about Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I’ll lean into that rather than the rapper connection.
So glad you posted the winners. The names are so clever, much appreciated by me as a writer. On the Snowtorious B.I.G, I think it may refer to the Notorious RBG, the late Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; that was her nickname for years.
You sisters think alike. Colleen just wrote the same. I appreciate the possible link of Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the name choice.
Thanks for letting us know the results of this contest. I think one of mine made the list…
It’s a fun contest and interesting to see which names win. I thought the Bob Dylan referenced name would be selected given the recent movie about him.
Love it – ha! I still speak Minnesota speak at times and get the strangest looks. Really like when they try to pinpoint what part of Canada I am from – bless your heart. Nice when you meet another Minnesotan here and you get each other, especially the humor, long goodbyes, et. al. Thanks for giving us an update – love the creativeness 🙂 Happy Day – Enjoy
You can speak Minnesotan with me here anytime. Canada, huh? Nope, Minnesota. Definitely Minnesota.
Like you, I appreciate all the creative names submitted for this contest.
I love this! Something only a Midwesterner would find humor in
I fully agree with that. 🙂