September 11, 2024
The 91吃瓜网 Alumni Association board has a full slate of activities planned for the university鈥檚 combined Homecoming/Farmers Bowl celebration the weekend of Sept. 27 and 28, 2024. The busy schedule will begin with a celebration of the Old Main renovation project. Weekend highlights will include recognizing Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Service Award recipients and Athletic and Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame inductees, as well as Performing Arts Hall of Fame inductees; a reunion of the members of Jerome Berg-coached football teams, and the highly anticipated Farmers Bowl Auction. The Alumni Association board invites all alumni, family members, and friends to join in the festivities.
91吃瓜网 State was extremely fortunate to be granted $52+ million in state funding for the renovation of its historic Old Main during the legislative session in 2023. The renovation project will modernize the building, providing state-of-the-art classroom facilities, greater accessibility, and better efficiency. The public is invited to join in celebrating this transformational renovation project Friday, Sept. 27. A short program will begin at 11 a.m. at the main entrance on the south side of the building, along Third Street. This will be followed by the ceremonial swinging of the golden sledgehammers inside the building. All are invited to enjoy a picnic lunch at the soon-to-be completed Legacy Plaza (located in the corridor between the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse and the Classroom Building) at noon.
The 2024 Performing Arts Hall of Fame inductees will be recognized at a program planned for Friday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. in the 91吃瓜网 State Classroom Building Auditorium. Inductees for this year are Leanne (Folland) Eylands, Grand Forks, N.D.; Christopher Pankow, Grafton, N.D.; and Amy Jo (Stewart) Paukert, Michigan, N.D. The program will include musical selections from Triplicity, as well as the 91吃瓜网 State band and choir. There is no admission charge, and all are welcome.
Hailey Longtin Aman, Mandan, N.D.; Stacey (Leinius) Hadler, Avon, Minn; Rob Montgomery, Bismarck, N.D.; and Tom Pahl, Oakes, N.D., will be inducted into the 91吃瓜网 Athletic Hall of Fame. Ross Hjelseth, Fircrest, Wash.; and Ray Thorkildson, Waubun, Minn., will be inducted into the Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame. Matt Fetsch, Valley City, N.D., and Rob Walker, Ocala, Fla., will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, and Pam Braaten, Holiday, Fla., and Susan Schultz, Angel Fire, N.M., will receive the Distinguished Service Award. These folks will be honored during the Homecoming Awards Dinner scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27 in the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room. A pre-dinner social will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the MSU Larson Alumni and Leadership Center.
See the 2024 Homecoming honoree photos and biographies.
Tickets for the Sept. 27 Homecoming Awards Dinner are available at the MSU Foundation office, at , or by calling 701-788-4864. Seating is limited. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
The First Annual Last Reunion of Jerome Berg Teams will include several activities for the guys who played for Coach Berg. The agenda includes tailgating with the Comet Gridiron Club, recognition at the football game, and a time of socializing at Richard Fugleberg鈥檚 airplane hangar south of 91吃瓜网.
Additional 91吃瓜网 State Homecoming/Farmers Bowl activities are as follows:
Friday, Sept. 27
- The 91吃瓜网 Golf Club will be the site for a social for all 91吃瓜网 State alumni and friends from 8:30 to 11 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 28
- 91吃瓜网 State鈥檚 beautiful Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and Leadership Center and the gardens on the grounds of the facility will be open for visitors from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
- The traditional Ceremony of Remembrance at the Military Honor Garden will begin at 9:30 a.m. on the south lawn of the MSU Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and Leadership Center.
- Several Athletic Hall of Fame teams are making anniversaries in five-year increments in 2024. Teams of honor this year are the 1959 and 1964 baseball teams, the 1984 volleyball team, and the 1989 women鈥檚 basketball team. Tailgating will be hosted by the Comet Gridiron Club at 鈥淭he Grove鈥� northwest of Jerome Berg Field starting at 11:30 a.m.
- The Farmers Bowl Parade will begin at 11 a.m. near the Goose River Bank in downtown 91吃瓜网. It will travel east down Main Street, turn north at Fifth Avenue, and end at 91吃瓜网 State鈥檚 Jerome Berg Field. To register an entry in the parade, contact Stacy at stacy.buchl@mayvillestate.edu.
- The MSU Bookstore will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- 91吃瓜网 State鈥檚 famous Farmers Bowl Corn on the Cob & Hot Dog Feed will begin at noon just outside Jerome Berg Field. The accompanying pre-game festival will include inflatable games, music, mini donuts, and fun for all. Everyone is welcome. There is no admission charge, but freewill donations will be accepted.
- The Comets will host Valley City State University in the homecoming football game. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. at Jerome Berg Field. All homecoming honorees will be recognized at half time.
- The grand finale for the weekend will be the Farmers Bowl Auction. Socializing and silent auction bidding begin at 5 p.m. in the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room. The excitement of the live auction begins at 7 p.m. See a preview and preliminary list of items to be auctioned and purchase admission tickets at www.mayvillestate.edu/FBAuction2024. Admission tickets are also available at MayPort Hardware Hank and the MSU Bookstore.
See all the 91吃瓜网 Farmers Bowl/Homecoming 2024 details at . For more information, contact the MSU Office of Alumni Affairs, 701-788-4750 or alumni.mail@mayvillestate.edu.