‘Blizzard of Oz’ and ‘Snoah Gahan’ among 118 snowplow names chosen by Vermont students this year

Vermont students once again had the opportunity to name snowplows from the Vermont Agency of Transportation. 

Some of their choices? Snoah Gahan, Blizzard of Oz, Clearopathra, No More Mr. Ice Guy and Luke Snowstopper.

The 118 freshly named plows are part of the agency’s “Name a Plow” program, which is inspired by similar contests in Scotland.

It’s the third year that Vermont elementary and middle school students have competed in the contest, which gives them the opportunity to name the large orange snowplow designated to their school, according to VermontBiz. 

In 2021, the agency held the competition for the first time, with 163 schools participating, and again in 2022 for schools that did not participate the year prior, with 71 more snowplows getting a creative name. 

This year’s 118 new names will replace the old ones, unless a school didn’t participate again, in which case its plow would keep its previous name, according to VermontBiz. 

Schools were also given the opportunity to submit a name for a new snowplow joining Vermont’s ranks this year. With a 21-foot plow wing, the new equipment will help keep Interstate 89 clear this winter, according to the agency. 

The agency received 77 entries to name the plow, with the winning name — The Vermonster — coming from Townshend Elementary School. 

On Thursday, Vermont schools that participated in the competition held the third annual Vermont Plow Day, where plows visited the schools behind their respective names, and students met with the agency’s plow workers, according to the agency.

Read the story on VTDigger here: ‘Blizzard of Oz’ and ‘Snoah Gahan’ among 118 snowplow names chosen by Vermont students this year.