What is the Farmers Bowl?
Farmers Bowl is an annual day-long festival that honors the region’s agricultural way of life. Farmers Bowl began in 1995 and has become a highlight for the entire area. The day always includes a parade, corn on the cob and hot dog feed, football game featuring the Mayville State University Comets, and a charity auction. It is fitting to celebrate our agricultural way of life as we cheer on the Comets and support Mayville State University. Farmers Bowl 2011 was held on Saturday, September 24.
"Back Behind the Barn" 5K Run/Walk
The "Back Behind the Barn" 5K Run/Walk was a new activity added to Farmers Bowl this year. The run/walk was sponsored by the MSU Wellness Center. Wellness Center employee Lisa Rakowski and board members Debby Haugen, Sonia Burley, and Jessie Haugen coordinated the event.
The 5K began at 8:00 a.m. in front of Mayville State University's Old Main. All proceeds of the run/walk will go toward the purchase of new equipment in the Wellness Center. .
Click here to see a list of participants and race times.
Click here to see the route map.
For more information about the “Back Behind the Barn” 5K Run/Walk, contact Lisa Rakowski at the Wellness Center. She can be reached at 701-788-5200 or WellnessCenter@mayvillestate.edu.
Parade
The Farmers Bowl Parade, featuring farm equipment, bands, antique vehicles, and floats begia in downtown Mayville at 10:00 a.m., made its way through town, and ended at Jerome Berg Field on the Mayville State campus.
Corn on the Cob & Hot Dog Feed
The fun of Farmers Bowl continued immediately after the parade with the traditional corn on the cob and hot dog feed near Mayville State's Jerome Berg Field. The MSU Comet Athletic Club hosted a good number of participants, as 700 hot dogs and 60 dozen ears of corn were served!
Kids of all ages enjoyed the climbing wall provided courtesy of the North Dakota and Traill County Farmers Union.
Titan Machinery Farmers Bowl Football Game
The Mayville State Comets were defeated by Jamestown College in the game. Final score was 13-35.
The Auction
The 15th annual Farmers Bowl Auction began with a social featuring an hors d'oeuvres buffet at the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room at 5:00 p.m. Bidding on the silent auction will also began at that time. The excitement of the live auction was unleashed at 7:00 p.m.
The first auction, held in 1997, raised more than $14,000. This amount has increased substantially over the years, as about $40,000 has been taken each year during the last several. A cash raffle held in each of the last couple of years has added an additional $8,500 to $10,000 to Farmers Bowl proceeds each year. The proceeds of the auction are administered by the MSU Foundation for the benefit of Mayville State University and its students.
Click here to see an auction catalog.
Farmers Bowl Fundraiser
The Farmers Bowl drawing for $1,000 took place during the Farmers Bowl Auction on September 24. Bob Brown of Mayville was the lucky winner.
To make a donation and participate, click here.
"Last Blooms at West Hall" Original Artwork Raffle
Doug Anderson, 1974 Mayville State graduate, created and donated this beautiful watercolor (pictured above) featuring some of the last flowers in bloom outside of Mayville State's historic West Hall. West Hall had deteriorated to the point where restoration was not cost effective. The building was demolished in the summer of 2011. The cost of framing the watercolor was donated by Kelly Morrison ('76). Winner of the raffle was Rob Johnston of Hillsboro, N.D.
More Information
For more information, contact the MSU Foundation at 701-788-4750 or alumni.mail@mayvillestate.edu.