SDDOT Snowplow Naming Contest

The seventh annual Snowplow Naming Contest hosted by the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) will open Monday Nov. 16, 2026, through Sunday, Dec. 27, 2026. Over the past six winters, SDDOT has engaged thousands of South Dakotans in naming snowplows across the State. On average, the SDDOT contest annually draws submissions from individuals, classrooms, and businesses.

Multiple entries may be submitted through the online form. Once the contest closes at the end of December, SDDOT staff will then vote on their favorite entries. In January, SDDOT will announce one officially named snowplow within each of its 12 SDDOT geographic areas across South Dakota. To date, seventy two plows have been officially named through the contest. All named snowplows remain in active service.

As part of the contest, SDDOT also creates snowplow and winter driving awareness coloring sheets, crossword puzzles, and word finds for families and classrooms. New materials are available for download on the contest page below.

“The snowplow naming contest has become a favorite tradition that brings a little fun to winter,” said Transportation Secretary Joel Jundt. “It’s also an opportunity to remind travelers about the importance of planning ahead, checking road conditions, and staying informed when weather impacts travel. We appreciate the dedication of our snowplow operators and maintenance teams whose hard work helps keep South Dakota’s highways safe and passable throughout the winter season.”

For more information about the contest, contact us by emailing dot.communications@state.sd.us.

Voting Opens Nov. 16, 2026
The voting form is not yet accepting responses. Please return on Nov. 16, 2026 to cast your vote for your favorite SDDOT snowplow names.

Kids Activity Packet

DOWNLOAD KIDS ACTIVITY BOOK (PDF FOR PRINT)

Past Contest Winners

View previous winning names here

SDDOT Snowplow Blizzard Bracket and Battle of the Blades Contest Page (Photos and Videos)

A few years ago, SDDOT added the Blizzard Bracket competition during the March Madness season. The Blizzard Bracket provides additional opportunities to engage with the public and promote winter safety messaging during the often snow-filled spring months. The Blizzard Bracket includes all previously named plows.

In 2026, SDDOT partnered with the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) to co-host the Dakota Battle of the Blades, featuring top snowplow names from each state. When the final votes were tallied, “Ice Krispy” was crowned champion over South Dakota’s “Frost Force One”. The Championship Round had such great public engagement, that we “broke the Internet” and had to add another voting form mid-stream. Over 120,000 votes were cast through the SDDOT site.