karboviak-web.jpgA warm, sunny day, exciting football, and teamwork among members of the Mayville State campus and the community highlighted another successful Mayville State University Farmers Bowl. The annual celebration of the area’s agricultural way of life took place Saturday, Sept. 9. Coordinated by the MSU Foundation, working together with alumni and friends in the Mayville-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 hagens-web.jpgcommittee members were Rick Karboviak, Doug Anderson, Dena Bergstrom, JoDee Dungan, Mandi Evans, David Moeller, Rhonda Nelson, Mindy O’Connor, 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 Mayville State’s historic Old shuffleboard-web.jpgMain. The course went through the Mayville State campus, making a jaunt into Jerome Berg Field. Overall winner of the race was Konrad Bueckers, a member of the Mayville State men’s basketball team. The 42 participants included Mayville State’s entire men’s 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 quilt-web.jpgorganizations. 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’s 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’s auction and other Farmers Bowl activities generated more than $30,000. Proceeds will be distributed through the MSU Foundation for the benefit of Mayville State University 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, Mayville 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 Mayville State graduate Doug Anderson, Cavalier, N.D. “Rockin’ Comets” depicts a peaceful scene on the north side of the Edson and Margaret Larson Alumni and Leadership Center at Mayville State. 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’s Auction & Realty. The winner of the $500 was Hanah Perkins of Mayville.

“Farmers Bowl is the product of many great volunteers working together for the good of Mayville-Portland and Mayville State University. We are very grateful for all who get involved with Farmers Bowl,” said Mayville State President Gary Hagen. “From 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, Mayville State and its students will experience even greater benefits as a result of the annual Farmers Bowl activities.”

Committees for next year’s Farmers Bowl are forming now. If you’re interested in getting involved, contact the MSU Foundation at 701-788-4864.

 Photo captions:  

Top: 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: 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: The customized Mayville State shuffleboard donated by the MSU Health, Physical Education, and Recreation faculty was a hot item at the Farmers Bowl Auction.

Bottom: Ray and Alana Gerszewski of Mayville donated this fabulous T-shirt quilt that was crafted with shirts representing MSU through the years and assembled and quilted by Alana.