MSU President's Newspaper Column
September 7, 2024
We’ll be recognizing our roots and honoring our agricultural way of life during the combined Homecoming/Farmers Bowl festivities September 27 and 28
It’s nearly time for alumni and friends to gather and celebrate the gift of Mayville State University and what it means in our lives. For the second year in a row, Homecoming will meet Farmers Bowl for a combined event where we’ll recognize our roots as Comets while honoring the agricultural way of life in our area. Festivities are planned for the weekend of Sept. 27-28.
Mayville State students will be participating in a number of activities leading up to the big weekend celebration. The traditional and much-anticipated lip sync event will be held, as well as the naming of the 2024 Mayville State Homecoming queen and king candidates. Students are looking forward to these activities, as well as participating in the parade, corn on the cob and hot dog feed, football game, where the queen and king will be named, and more on Sept. 28.
Big events like Farmers Bowl and Homecoming would not be possible without a team effort by many dedicated volunteers, including our students. Our student athletes, Peer Leaders, Collegiate DECA members, Student Education Association members, Student Athlete Advisory Council, and others will all play an integral role in the success of the weekend.
Over the summer, Alumni Association Board members have been rolling up their sleeves to make good things happen around campus. They’ve helped with shaping up and maintaining flower beds and spearheaded the exciting new Legacy Plaza project. These volunteers are loyal in commitment to the university and sincere in doing all they can do to make Mayville State the best it can be. We are grateful!
A handful of Alumni Association Board members have taken a lead role in ensuring the success of the Farmers Bowl Auction, the grand finale to the Farmers Bowl/Homecoming festivities, on Saturday evening, Sept. 27.
Board member Doug Anderson has worked with auction sponsorships, and we are blessed to have 16 sponsors who have contributed to the Farmers Bowl Auction this year.
They are Whelan Farms, Richard and Cleone Whelan, Crystal, N.D.; Arnie and Pat Osland, Mayville; Hunter Insurance, Hunter, N.D.; Johnson Farms, Dale and Diane Johnson, Cummings, N.D.; Kelly Bean Company, Mayville; GLD Farms, Mark Olson, Hoople, N.D.; Culver’s of Grand Forks, Blake Larson; Tim and Sue Strand, Mayville; Chris and Darcene Burgess and Brent and Stephanie Baldwin Families, Cavalier/St. Thomas, N.D.; Fugleberg Seed and Bean, Lance and Jodi Fugleberg, Portland, N.D.; N.D. Corn Utilization Council; Larry and Cathy Lande, Greeley, Colo.; Mahar Farms, Barbara and Patrick Mahar, Cavalier, N.D.; Northern Tier Seed Company, Thompson, N.D.; and Hillsboro Banner, Hillsboro, N.D. Baker Funeral Home, Kraig and Jackee Lerol, Mayville, N.D., have also supported the sponsorship effort. The generosity of these sponsors will help to ensure that the benefits to Mayville State students as the result of the Farmers Bowl activities will be even greater.
Alumni Board members Doug Anderson, Ann Willeson, and Teresa Agnes, along with Mayville State graduate JoDee Dungan and Mayville State faculty member Taylor Simon have been a part of the Farmers Bowl Auction Committee and gathered lots of wonderful auction item donations from generous alumni and friends near and far. You can see a preview and preliminary auction item list at www.mayvillestate.edu/FBAuction2024. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the committee members and the donors. None of this would be possible without them!
Beyond the auction sponsorships, there are overall Farmers Bowl sponsors as well. This year, Finley Motors, Foss Architecture, Top Hat, Martin Mechanical Design, First State Bank, Nilson Brand Law, PCL/Community Contractors, and Agassiz Drain Tile are helping to defray expenses associated with Homecoming/Farmers Bowl festivities. We thank them for being Comet supporters!
We look forward to great anticipation for the upcoming combined Homecoming/Farmers Bowl festivities that will kick off with a celebration of the renovation of Old Main and lunch in Legacy Plaza starting at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 27. We hope you will join us for all the fun and festivities of the weekend, including the Homecoming Awards Dinner, Ceremony of Remembrance at the Military Honor Garden, parade, corn on the cob and hot dog feed and pre-game festival, Mayville State vs. Valley City State football game, the Farmers Bowl Auction, and more. It will be an epic Comets Family Reunion! See all the plans and details at www.mayvillestate.edu/reunion.
We have much to celebrate in our special corner of the world. Don’t miss this opportunity to commemorate the gifts that are ours.