Amazing 'Man VS. Machine' Challenge in Sioux Falls

It's the ultimate "Man vs. Machine" event with teams of ten people attempting to pull a Sioux Falls Fire Truck or a Minnehaha County Sheriff's Department SWAT Bearcat!

It is the Heroes Pull for Special Olympics, presented by the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. This fantastic challenge is happening on Friday, September 29, from 5 to 8 PM at the Unify Center on 800 East I-90 Lane.

This super fun event is open to everyone and you can register in six different divisions.

Public Safety: At least half of the team members must be public safety employees
Fitness/Gym
Open- General public
High School/College
Special Olympian
Youth

Each team member is asked to raise $50 in donations or $500 per team. Then your team attempts to pull one of these vehicles as far or as fast as you can!

Lots of awards will be given in the 6 divisions too!

Overall Grand Champion (fastest overall team)
Top 2 Teams for Raising Money will receive gift cards to local restaurants

Beginning at 5 PM, you'll be able to check out the first responders' vehicles, and there will be bounce houses and other activities, plus food trucks where you can grab some tasty goodies.

Then at 6:30 PM the pulling begins! This is all to support the mission of the Special Olympics which is to -

provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children (8 years and older) and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

For more information, see Special Olympics South Dakota Heroes Pull, or call Michelle Paulsen at 605-214-7762

Do You Know Your South Dakota College and University Mascots

The college football experience is an ultimate high for football fans and it takes several other teams to make that happen week after week during the season.

Just think about what goes into gameday.

First and foremost, the players and coaching staff who put in hours and hours of practice and training to play in front of their fans. Then there's field prep, game officials, live broadcasts, concessions, and on-the-field entertainment. Yep, entertainment.

Second to the game, who do you watch? The cheerleaders? The band at halftime? What about the mascot? That's a job not many people can do.

I asked Sioux Falls native and former Cagey mascot for the Sioux Falls Canaries and Little Red & Herbie for the Nebraska Huskers Nate Welch about being a mascot:

What does it take to be a mascot?
"Losing a bet or filling an opportunity!" Welch says, "An internal energized desire to love life. After meeting great performers who are introverts out of costume, they become the center of attention when they take the stage. And also feeding off the performance of others."
Why does the mascot never talk?
"Know your role and shut your mouth. You are there to entertain. Tell the story with your actions and not your voice."
Advice to someone putting on that costume for the first time?
"Remember you are now in a costume. Have fun. Otherwise, you're just a dork in tights. If the fur ain't flying you ain't trying."

So, can you name the mascots at our South Dakota Colleges and Universities? Check out the gallery below:

Gallery Credit: Dave Roberts