Milk Maid

Cows and football, the perfect combination!

It’s not a big secret that I like cows. And it’s not a secret that I am a Minnesota Vikings fan (for better or worse).

This week, two of my favorite things combined and I couldn’t be more excited. The Vikings kicked off training camp this week and for many fans, that’s when they really start getting excited about the upcoming season.

In my opinion, it’s a great time for refresher courses and smoothing out line ups, plays, relationships, etc., but I really don’t get too pumped until the regular season starts. This season is a little different though, as Minnesota is hosting the upcoming Super Bowl in February.

No team in the history of the National Football League has ever played in or won the big game when they are hosting it in their home stadium.

I don’t want to dampen your Super Bowl dreams for this season, but the odds aren’t great.

Regardless, it will still be a fun season and Minnesota gets to host the Super Bowl, so it’s still a win and something to look forward to!

On Monday, I was scrolling through my social media feed, when I saw something that stopped me in my tracks. A friend of mine that works for Midwest Dairy got to meet Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph.

She was able to meet Rudolph because of a partnership between the Vikings, Midwest Dairy and Land O’Lakes.

On Monday, Rudolph and several other Vikings players made an announcement that during the Super Bowl week, an innovative and interactive competition called the, “Land O’Lakes Farm Bowl,” will be held to celebrate Minnesota’s rich agricultural and football heritage.

Current and former players will be paired with a farmer, forming eight teams of two players to compete in four challenges that exemplify core principles of the NFL and modern farming: strength, endurance, intelligence and coordination, all on a course that will be built at the University of Minnesota.

The first four events include a milk pipe puzzle, tractor tire change, hay bale back-up and a drone drop.

The top two teams will advance to a fifth event, the “big feed run,” to determine the winner of the Farm Bowl Trophy.

Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis, former Vikings and Packers receiver Greg Jennings and former Ravens and Rams offensive lineman Jason Brown were announced as participants who will join Rudolph. The Land O’Lakes Farm Bowl is a collaboration designed to inspire the next generation of young leaders to consider careers in food and agriculture as part of the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee’s programming.

It will showcase “the intricacies and challenges of modern agriculture, testing the skills of professional football players on the farm.” How cool does this sound?

Several NFL stars, including Rudolph, also spent Sunday afternoon learning about modern farming technologies at Enchanted Dairy in Little Falls, an 1,800-cow dairy farm owned by Ron Miller.

They were there to film for promotions for the Land O’Lakes Bowl. The Miller family and employees had a lot of fun showing the football players around the farm.

Rudolph helped to feed calves and Jennings even learned how to drive a tractor. The Vikings really know how to combine two of my favorite things!

Even if the Vikings don’t become the first team in history to host and play in a Super Bowl, all the events surrounding the big game will be a lot of fun for everyone and a great way to showcase Minnesota.

Brittany Moorse

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