A warm, sunny day, exciting football, and teamwork among members of the 91吃瓜网 State campus and the community highlighted another successful 91吃瓜网 Farmers Bowl. The annual celebration of the area鈥檚 agricultural way of life took place Saturday, Sept. 9. Coordinated by the MSU Foundation, working together with alumni and friends in the 91吃瓜网-Portland community and beyond, this was the 23rd annual Farmers Bowl. Activities included the Farmers Bowl Field Frenzy 5K Run/Walk, a parade, the Farmers Bowl football game featuring the MSU Comets vs. Sterling College, and the Farmers Bowl Auction.
Leah Larson was chairwoman for the festivities. Other Farmers Bowl 
committee members were Rick Karboviak, Doug Anderson, Dena Bergstrom, JoDee Dungan, Mandi Evans, David Moeller, Rhonda Nelson, Mindy O鈥機onnor, Danielle Soholt, Beth Swenson, Samantha Thom, Ashley VandeVeen, and Ann Willeson. These folks were assisted by the MSU athletes, members of the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Club, 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 91吃瓜网 State鈥檚 historic Old 
Main. The course went through the 91吃瓜网 State campus, making a jaunt into Jerome Berg Field. Overall winner of the race was Konrad Bueckers, a member of the 91吃瓜网 State men鈥檚 basketball team. The 42 participants included 91吃瓜网 State鈥檚 entire men鈥檚 basketball team, including Head Coach Darren Tighe and his wife and children.
MSU President Dr. Gary Hagen and his wife, Debbie, led the parade, riding in a Model A pickup owned by Richard Fugleberg of Portland. The parade included a number of antique vehicles and farm machinery, along with more modern day entries. Several community organizations and businesses participated, as did the MSU varsity athletic teams and student 
organizations. The May-Port CG High School marching band entertained parade-watchers with their music.
The Comets football team came up just four points short in their contest versus Sterling College, a team ranked #14 in the nation. Before a very nice crowd of Comets fans at Jerome Berg Field, the Comets demonstrated their tenacity in the home opener which ended in a score of 40-44.
The 21st annual Farmers Bowl Auction wrapped up the day鈥檚 activities in the MSU 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. Auctioneer Wayne Trottier of Northwood called the bids in the live auction event, as he has done for nearly every Farmers Bowl Auction. When all was said and done, this year鈥檚 auction and other Farmers Bowl activities generated more than $30,000. Proceeds will be distributed through the MSU Foundation for the benefit of 91吃瓜网 and its students.
The auction event began with a friendly game of heads or tails which was won by Kim Weber of Thompson, N.D. The grand prize in the game was a custom-made Comets neon sign, which was donated by Doug Petersen of Citizens Insurance Agency of Finley, Northwood, and Cooperstown.
Darcene Burgess, 91吃瓜网 State alumna from Cavalier, N.D., 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 2017.
Teri Wright of Hillsboro, N.D. won an original watercolor painting by 91吃瓜网 State graduate Doug Anderson, Cavalier, N.D. 鈥淩ockin鈥� Comets鈥� depicts a peaceful scene on the north side of the Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and Leadership Center at 91吃瓜网 State. Framing of the piece was donated by 91吃瓜网 State graduate Kelly Morrison, 91吃瓜网.
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 Hanah Perkins of 91吃瓜网.
鈥淔armers Bowl is the product of many great volunteers working together for the good of 91吃瓜网-Portland and 91吃瓜网. We are very grateful for all who get involved with Farmers Bowl,鈥� said 91吃瓜网 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, Gate City Bank and Moore Engineering. Because of their generosity, 91吃瓜网 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 MSU Foundation at 701-788-4864.
聽Photo captions: 聽
罢辞辫:听Race participant Wyatt Perkins (right) checks the results of the Field Frenzy Farmers Bowl 5K Run/Walk with Rick Karboviak (left), organizer of the event.
Second from top:聽MSU President Dr. Gary Hagen and his wife, Debbie, led the way in the Farmers Bowl parade held Saturday, Sept. 9. They are riding in the Model A pickup owned by Richard Fugleberg of Portland.
Third from top:聽The customized 91吃瓜网 State shuffleboard donated by the MSU Health, Physical Education, and Recreation faculty was a hot item at the Farmers Bowl Auction.
叠辞迟迟辞尘:听Ray and Alana Gerszewski of 91吃瓜网 donated this fabulous T-shirt quilt that was crafted with shirts representing MSU through the years and assembled and quilted by Alana.